We are in Africa.
We live among the people.
We don’t live in a community surrounded by other Western families; no we live in the town. Because of this we stand out and our house has become a target for some of those who have less than honorable intentions.
This year we have had 2 break ins.
The first happened while we were at work. Someone broke through a back door with a pick ax and went through the house. They found a stash of cash which I’m sure made them happy and they also took … our iron. They ignored our TV and DVD player and DVDs and IPod, but they got our iron.
I was upset. I wanted the Marines to start guarding our house. I wanted helicopters and spot lights and electrified fences. I wanted justice. I wanted to feel safe.
Then a few months later while we were away for the weekend celebrating our anniversary we were robbed again. This time there was no money for them (we learned a lesson). This one was more classical TV like robbery. Everything was trashed there was on the floor. Our bedroom door as kicked in and all and they got our IPod this time, and believe it or not they went for our new iron. But left it in the living room (true). But my reaction was a little different. At first I was irritated (expected) I called my good friend/boss/mentor Doug Ehrgott and fumed a little, but then I got over it pretty quick. In fact as Becky and I spent our Anniversary cleaning the mess we had a great time and figured our room needed to be cleaned anyway.
So what had happened between the first and second break in?
Well for me Matthew 6:19-20 really started to come to life for the first time in my life.
Jesus says “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (NIV)
I had read the verse a million (exaggeration) times and understood what it meant, but had never lived the verse before. I had never had it seep into me.
The 1st breaking really helped me understand the fact that the stuff on earth really doesn’t matter. It’s the treasures in heaven that matter.
So what are treasures in heaven? To me it’s people, others, YOU. See “stuff” will be abundant in heaven, wont really matter, they’ll even use gold as pavement. But the people who join us as The Bride of Christ, see they are the treasure. That’s what I (and you) am supposed to be pursuing. Helping fill the Kingdom with others.
Who would have thought that a break-in, would motivate me more to have an impact for The Kingdom?
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