We sat at a roadside pullout high in the mountains of British Columbia. We had stopped for breakfast about a half hour before and here on the mountaintop seemed to be the perfect place to do our morning devotions.

Kathy grabbed a chair and her Bible and went off in one direction and I grabbed a chair, my Bible and the dog and went a little way off. Genni settled in at my feet as I read of mountains in the Old Testament, seated looking across the valley at more rocky mountaintops.

The setting was ideal and a great place to commune with God. When I was done, I set my Bible down and took the dog for a short stroll.

As we walked, we came across a rock pile that some road crew had cleaned off the road from a small rockslide. The pile glistened in the bright morning sunlight as the sun reflected off the large flakes of mica on the rocks.

Fascinated, I picked up a large piece of mica and examined it closely. It was made up of many layers, each of which reflected the sun, but each of which peeled away like onionskin, soon leaving me holding but a dull, worthless rock.

It struck me that much of our lives are spent in chasing flakes of Mica. We hunt for valuable treasures, shiny bits of precious metals, for little nuggets of knowledge, for possessions, for status and for recognition. They seem so attractive when we have them in our hand, but in the end they all peel away leaving us empty and holding nothing of more value than a chunk of rock.

It’s no wonder Scripture admonishes us to look for things of eternal value, things that will hold up and last forever.

“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. Matthew 6:19-21 NIV

What holds up in eternity? A personal relationship with Jesus, sharing His love with others, meeting the needs of those around us, acts of obedience and worship, prayer and praise will all stand the test.

When you stand in front of Him at the seat of judgment will you bring an offering of great value from a lifetime of service in His name or stand before Him holding a worthless chunk of stone?

It’s never too early or too late to begin storing up those treasures in heaven. If you haven’t done so, or you drifted away for a while, it’s time to begin.

Be blessed.

© Kevin Corbin corbin_writer@shaw.ca