For the first time, I heard about a coffin fashion show in Texas for selling guitar cases. “Coffin Fashion Show” got me thinking of the garb to wear when one is literally breathless and ready for decomposing en route to becoming dust. Are there any rules of thumb?…What length should the dress be? Should it be white or in the corpse’s flattering color season? How much prettier can we get with makeup  when we are corpses? What shoes are best? How many watches and how many arms will have a watch? These questions remind me of the temporal nature of earthly treasures; we can be engrossed by these superficial casings.

The radio station 98.7 dzFe has an audio clip of clattering cans with the commentary that no hearse ever had the person’s belongings following behind. We can not take our possessions with us.  “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised (Job 1:21).

God blessed many of his people with riches and possessions (Abraham, Joseph, David, Esther, Lydia). Riches and possessions in themselves are not evil.  Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God (Ecc 5:19).

When we keep the perspective that God, the Giver is our focus, not his gifts, we are able to enjoy his blessings. These material things (clothes, watches, cars, and other external costumes and props) are not the end goal in life to the detriment of our relationship with God and with the people whom God has placed in our lives to be stewards of.  Neither can they be a standard of measure in receiving others. Even though the human eye is naturally drawn to beauty more than ugliness, putting on the Holy Spirit will enable us to see the beauty of people’s hearts which are the most important and lasting.  But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1Sam 16:7)

We can ask ourselves what ranks highest in our hearts as our main pursuit. Matthew 6:33 tells us the sequence that leads to blessing:  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  

The verse says not some or a few but “all” these things are just add-ons… to the best blessing to have which is God’s kingdom and righteousness.  On the other hand, to pursue these things as our first priority, we can lose sight of God.  Matthew 16  ²⁶ What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

May God be our top treasure.  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matt 6:19-21).

May the thought of coffin fashion redirect our focus towards the essentials of God that will make a difference in our lives and in the lives of others for his glory.
SONG: I BOW MY KNEE (Ron Kenoly)