Sunday, August 20, 2006

Travel and Treasure

Off we go to London again. Going to spend my birthday this year once again in hospital - just like last year. On this 32nd trip to the capital for medical reasons I feel a bit like a commuter, turning up at the airport with a bag of pills instead of a laptop. ~Ho hum. At least I get the chance to experience the current security scare at the nation's airports from the inside. Endless queuing, radical searches, vast crowds, noisy children, screaming babes and surly security people with scowling glares.

All this is made easier by the Bible passage I preached on at church this morning. 2 Corinthians 4:7 'For we have this treasure in jars of clay'. I am very aware of the clayness of my jar, but what has really caught my attention is the wonder of the treasure. The gospel, the radiance of Christ, the presence of God Himself in my life - that makes me a very special kind of traveller. I wonder if this kind of treasure will show up on the scanner? 'Excuse me Sir, did you know that you have got incredible riches on your insides?' Maybe not, but the knowledge of it keeps me going.

In the same chapter, Paul writes ' though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day'. I know it's the clay pot that they are going to be fiddling with this week, but I'm going to fix my mind on the treasure. 'Fix your eyes then on what is unseen, because what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.'

Someone very kindly sent me this link to a very moving webpage about the kind of vessel God chooses to use - take a look at http://wandascountryhome.com/potter/ Enjoy!

Back again soon. God bless.