I drove my car White Lightning on a 5,000 mile road trip this past summer. I described my trip in the series of blogs listed below under READ MORE.

There were no accidents. No thefts. No vandalism.

About a week ago, my son and his girl friend (who were visiting from New Hampshire) drove White Lightning to a museum in San Francisco—about an hour away from where I live in San Jose.

When they came out of the museum, the back passenger window of White Lightning was shattered.

Thieves had broken into White Lightning!

Thieves had stolen things from White Lightning!

I thought of what Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, . . . where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, . . . where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20).

The earthly “treasures” of White Lightning and the items in it were quickly damaged and stolen.

But the heavenly “treasures” of my memories about driving White Lightning across the United States—and of my blogs about my road trip—can never be damaged or stolen.

These thoughts reminded me of my reaction when people justify spending money on unnecessary things by saying “You can’t take it with you!”.

It’s true we can’t take money or things with us when we die.

But our memories will be with us for all eternity. (Matthew 22:23-32).

Do you want your memories to be about how you foolishly—and futilely—stored up wealth and things for yourself? (Luke 12:13-21).

Or, do you want your memories to be about how you loved the LORD your God with all of your heart and soul and mind and strength? (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Matthew 22:35-40).

Do you want your memories to be about how you loved your neighbors as yourself—doing for others what you would want them to do for you? (Matthew 22:35-40; Luke  10:25-37; Matthew 7:12).

READ MORE

For related thoughts, please read my blog “Game Lessons: Use It or Lose It”.

For thoughts arising during my 5,000 mile road trip in White Lightning, please read my blogs “Lightning from East to West”, “Directions Along the Way”, “Delays Along the Way”, “Dangers Along the Way—Narrow Roads”, “Dangers Along the Way—Heavy Traffic”, “Hiding in Plain Sight”, “Smoke from Distant Fires”, “Camouflaging Hideous Death with Fake Life”, “Dry Lightning”, “The Mighty River of Living Water!”, “Black Pine Trees”, and “A Golden Sunset at the Golden Gate Bridge”.