Stolen Treasure

Reading of the Day: Ezekiel 21-23

Ezekiel 23:41: And satest upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon thou hast set mine incense and mine oil.

We've all heard pirate stories...in fact, that's one theme that seems to somehow find its way into every generation in some form or another. Years ago, it was by word of mouth. Then books. Then movies & TV shows. And the list goes on. They can be quite entertaining...and while the stories span decades, even centuries of time, we don't see many pirates sailing the ocean blue any more...but the concept is still very real! The pirates stole treasure that belonged to other people, and spiritually, if we are not careful, we do the same to God! This Scripture talks about Israel preparing herself to join together with the enemy, as God looks on in His heartbroken wrath. She has everything set, all "decked-out," and in the saddest form of betrayal, uses God's incense and oil as the very thing that entices and allures the enemy. After all God had done for Israel...she gives her best to the enemy of God's people, serving the enemy's idols to top it all off! Originally, my first thought was, "How could she do that with God's sacred incense & oil which should be in His holy temple!? That's spiritual piracy! That's stolen treasure on such a hurtful level!" But then I realized this is so much deeper...more than just incense and oil...there was stealing, but there was also idol worship. The heart was the greatest stolen treasure! It wasn't just the items...it was the worship of them & love of the enemy over God. It is the realization that everything present in that sad set-up belonged to God, most importantly, the heart! We belong to God first, and we must also dedicate ourselves to Him as well, just like the incense and oil were dedicated for use in His temple! If not, we are stealing the greatest treasure ever discovered-a human heart with the ability to love. We steal what we are first attracted to. That attraction then causes us to do some crazy things in order to receive it. And all of a sudden, we are the culprits of stealing by allowing our hearts to fall in love with, or give too much attention to, anything else besides our loving Heavenly Father! It's time to be the Bride of Christ, not a spiritual pirate! It's time to return the treasure of the heart back into the Hands of the One Who delicately created it! I truly speak to myself in daily checking my own heart posture for any sign of detachment from Him alone.