Our prayers go out to those who are suffering so terribly in Southern California, among whom are some of my best friends.

The effects of this tragedy will continue for many years to come, and we are all so sorry.

The recent wildfire conflagrations in Los Angeles County have revealed the reactions of countless ordinary folks when thrust unexpectedly into life-and-death situations.

The most heart-rending moments come when people are forced to decide what to take with them and what to leave behind.

It happened to me a few years ago. Often, it boils down to grabbing our loved ones, pets, a few pictures, maybe some legal papers, medicines, and a handful of irreplaceable trinkets — no more than can fit in the trunk of our cars. Surprisingly little really.

So, what’s to learn for us all here?

Pay Close Attention

Merriam-Webster defines “cling” as “to hold or hold on tightly or tenaciously; to have a strong emotional attachment or dependence.”

There is often a note of desperation in clinging to something, almost as though your life depended upon it.

One of my pastor friends at church wrote:

“What are we clinging to that keeps us from fully living lives of worshipful surrender to the one deserving of all glory? Maybe it’s our love of comfort … or our love of money … or our love of control … or our love of status … or, simply, our love of our own glory. Whatever it may be, hear the invitation of Epiphany: to recognize anew the glory of God shown in Christ … to say, along with the Magi: we have come to worship him … and to lay down our treasures and our crowns before the only One truly worthy of it all.”

What we end up clinging to speaks volumes.

Clinging to What Will Count

The old saying, “You can’t take it with you when you die,” comes to mind. The song (above) included with this essay has the lines, “So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross / Till my trophies at last I lay down / I will cling to the old rugged cross / And exchange it someday for a crown.”

Scripture reminds us that eternity beckons, and our fleeting earthly sojourns are but a “vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away …”

And so choose wisely, as written in Deuteronomy 10:19-21:

“You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him, and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name. He is your glory, and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.”

Minimize Unnecessary ‘Stuff’

We are so much more than our stuff, but many waste their precious lives chasing it anyway (“he who has the most stuff wins, etc.”).

One wonders how many psychiatrist’s couches would be emptied if we just took seriously Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:19-21: 

“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 neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Instead, why not invest your life in eternal treasures that will be waiting for you when you get to Heaven.

‘Stickiness’ of Riches

One of the saddest episodes in the Gospels concerns the so-called “rich young ruler,” as related in Matthew 19:21-22:

“Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.”

Jesus was aware that material things can easily morph into idols, a replacement for God, inviting powerful spirits to spiritually compound the “stickiness” of our riches.

We start trusting in our visible created things rather than trusting in our unseen Creator — a slippery slope that invariably ends in spiritual shipwreck.

As the young ruler stood in the very presence of His Creator, the One who provided his riches in the first place, he deliberately made a poor “bargain” indeed.

Jesus loved this young man and was intensely interested in the condition of his soul, but He honored the young man’s power of choice and, with tears in His eyes, watched him walk away still clinging to his riches.

How About You?

When God calls you home to Heaven what, or more correctly … Who will you be clinging onto for dear life?