Matthew 6: 20: “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.”  I recently purchased a used utility trailer which had a lot of rust on all the metal frame and the flooring boards were all rotten and decayed.  It had not been maintained in good working condition and had been left out in the elements of the environment.  I worked hard for more than a week to remove all the rust which was destroying the metal.  I had to use a chemical rust remover and followed this with a grinder and sander to get the metal back in condition for repainting.  If not, the rust would have eaten the life out of the metal and it would have become weak and fragile.  The rotten flooring had to be removed.  It had already fallen out in areas and made it useless to haul anything.  The trailer had really lost its purpose and usefulness.  I restored all the metal with a rust inhibitor and two coats of protective paint.  I installed new treated board flooring to give it a solid foundation.  It now looks almost new and has been restored for its purposed in life.  If I had not taken these actions, this trailer would have been on its way to the dump ground for bad and neglected trailers.

Our lives are analogous where we must continually look for the rust and rotten areas and to remove them from destroying our personal walk with Jesus and our ability to spiritually lead those who ride in our trailer of life.  I had to research on Google how to remove and restore the rusty metal.  It was hard work to remove the rust and rotten wood, but it was required for the trailer to be used for its purpose.  The same is true for us as we must ask the Lord to examine our own lives for rust and rotten things that creep in and build up over time.  When we find these beginning to build up, we must take action and remove them.  If not, they will destroy us and our purpose in life and His Kingdom.  Instead of using Google to find our answers, we are to use God’s Word.  The Bible is our rust inhibitor and protective coating to keep our lives from becoming rusty and rotten and lose their purpose and usefulness.  In Psalms we find these words, “Search me O God, and know my heart and see if there is any wicked way in me.”  Thieves don’t break in and steal the rusty and rotten.  No, they want to steal the good from us, but God is our protector to keep the rust and rotten out of our lives.