1. How often have we seen a sign on a corner somewhere with the words, “Garage Sale” prominently displayed?
2. Perhaps you are the kind of person who loves rummaging around at these sites for the purpose of finding a gem in the midst of another man’s old junk.
3. For a lot of folk, nothing fills a Saturday in the summer any better than garage sale hopping.
4. Maybe you’re the kind of individual who likes cars and working on them.
5. If so, then you are no stranger to the junk yard.
6. Even if you don’t like working on cars, certainly you have seen those huge lots where rows and rows of beat up, smashed cars serve as a treasure ground for car enthusiasts.
7. You might be wondering what garage sales and junk yards have in common.
8. Not much, except both deal in things that once held great value for the original owners.
9. The old lawn mower with the $25 price tag at one time was the envy of every yard man who passed by and saw it on the sales floor.
10. The rusted out, wrecked, junker was once parked on the sales lot, shining in the sunlight.
11. Someone came through, looked at it; test drove it and pronounced “I have to have this car.”
12. Money was exchanged, papers were signed, and insurance was obtained.
13. Then off somebody went in a new car with that wonderful new car smell.
14. However, time passed, the lawnmower wore out, the car quit running and what once seemed so precious became nothing but rubbish.
15. There are some spiritual lessons that can be learned from such thoughts. Consider the following…

A. Worldly Goods Perish. Nothing material lasts forever.
1. We are reminded of the words of Jesus who said,
“"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on 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 destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)
2. Since this is the case, we should choose to…
a. Value the Proper Things.
1.) Since this life is so brief and judgment is certain (Jas. 4:14; 2 Cor. 5:10), we must learn to value that which is appropriate.
2.) Nothing is more valuable than the soul, therefore it should be valued above all else (Mark 8:36-37).
3.) The Bible, the church, brethren, family members, friends and the like should be placed high upon the priority list.
4.) Things that matter as it pertains to eternity should be at the top of the values chart.
b. Delight in the imperishable. Even though earthly goods and items all eventually wear out and wear away, the inner man, which lasts forever, can continue to grow and improve.
1.) The apostle Paul wrote,
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16)
c. The pursuit of godliness in anyone’s life, is never a vain pursuit (1 Cor. 15:58; 1 Tim. 4:7-9).
1.) Therefore let us be determined to remember that “the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Tim. 4:18).
And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!
(2 Timothy 4:18)

By Gary Murphy

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