An array of trash and treasures this past weekend…  too many thoughts jumbled but they do relate back to counting our blessings – and storing up treasures in Heaven not on earth…. And relating this all back to Ezekiel’s warnings to the King of Tyre…

We are to enjoy our stuff while here on earth as we live. Just don’t get hung up on amassing treasures in earth over those in heaven. A treasure to one is trash to another, and vice versa. There are treasures in little things, like memories, like the smile from 80’s south of the border bumper stickers, still usable, so I stuck one on my “beater car” over a scratch.

Then there are valuable not precious, and precious not valuable…

The precious items we have, are worldly precious and yet the heavens appreciate preciousness too. Heaven’s preciousness is in valuing worshipping God, creator of all. And the gemstones mentioned in the Bible, especially in the New Jerusalem that the Lord will bring for forever *see Book of Revelation*, acknowledges that we are to understand treasures, God has treasures to share. It’s the hoarding to make one seem god-like which becomes the flaunting easily corrupted by evil (like the King of Tyre in Ezekiel). Wealth is wasted if not directed appropriately. There are blessings in good living – and the excess, we can share the rest….

I recently saw a museum for a great collection of gemstones, and yet the burden of these millions of dollars of gems and jewelry requires extra security, resources and what do you do with them, except look! It’s a marvel that they even exist, the world so intricate and vast. Pockets of particular wows. This collection is of broaches and necklaces. No one wears this collection of gems now. There are times that we see in Hollywood that jewelry is lent out for gala events, but this collection likely will stay local. Museums help maintain what normally could be hoarded is displayed. Interesting dilemma that wealth brings, it also corrupts individuals, it’s perhaps our brokenness to NOT hold treasures in collective sharing, but amass them to hold power. Power that is fleeting. 

So in Ezekiel’s time, the King of Tyre was known for acting as a god himself, and God, our real and only God, said: ‘because of your wealth your heart has grown proud’. God saw the precious stones were adorned on him as a baby but his arrogance and greed was wickedness. The wickedness did him in, and God will see that the King of Tyre will lose his worldly empire. 

The description of the gems and the cherubic existence but influenced by wickedness could certainly be read as if also talking about Satan’s fall from grace, fall from the garden. Satan will also lose his world empire that he meddles in now, won’t it be eternal separation that will finish Satan, and evil will meddle no more. We know this war is won, but we still battle in matches each day, until the Word of God is taken into each heart.

That is the treasure that will grow and appreciate – the treasure of the Word – the blessings of no burdens – the hope of Heaven – the salvation from sins. Evil always will lose, for God and worship is Who we choose…

Amen

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Ezekiel 28:1-19

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘In the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.”

But you are a mere mortal and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god. Are you wiser than Daniel? Is no secret hidden from you? By your wisdom and understanding you have gained wealth for yourself and amassed gold and silver in your treasuries. By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, and because of your wealth your heart has grown proud.

“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because you think you are wise, as wise as a god, I am going to bring foreigners against you, the most ruthless of nations; they will draw their swords against your beauty and wisdom and pierce your shining splendor. They will bring you down to the pit, and you will die a violent death in the heart of the seas. Will you then say, “I am a god,” in the presence of those who kill you? You will be but a mortal, not a god, in the hands of those who slay you. You will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners. I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.

Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.

So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’”