Because of the effects of the fall of man, there is a great instability in the world. Things and people are very unpredictable. Situations that appear to be settled can in a flash radically change and make your whole world look different. People that you love and depend on can be by your side and then suddenly be gone. Though people and circumstances can be a source of great joy, they can’t be your primary source of joy or you will live your lives being constantly jerked around both mentally and emotionally.
Listen to Matt. 6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy, and thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” If our main treasure is in the heavenly realm; if we have set our affections on Him above everything else then our hearts will be safe. Our hearts follow that which we treasure the most.
Loss and change reveal the truth of what we treasure the most. It’s not that loss doesn’t hurt, even deeply, yet we aren’t destroyed, because our truest treasure (our love relationship with Jesus) is still in tack. Hear again those amazing verses from Rom.8:35-39, “Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, Nor height nor depth, nor anything else If all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If you have set your primary affections on Him; if your great treasure in life is to discover the depths of His love, and to love Him back with all your heart soul and mind, then your heart will always be safe and full of joy, even during those times when you are experiencing real sorrow in this fallen world, for in His presence is fullness of joy, and at His right hand there pleasures forevermore.
We are all on a treasure hunt. The real question is what treasure are you after. The true quality of our lives can always be predicted by that which we treasure the most.