The Golden Scheme For Getting Into Heaven
Were you raised in the evangelical church? I bet you were told to store your treasures in Heaven and not on Earth where “moth and rust corrupt” them and where “thieves break” into your home to steal them. This is taken from Matthew 6:19-24 [1].
I was a teenager when I finally realized it is unlikely that an all-sufficient, self-sustaining deity needs our donated money. What do all-sufficient and self-sustaining mean, again? When he already has everything, we are poor and low compared to him. Why urge us not to fret over our bank accounts and then use fear-based preaching to wrest the money from our hard-working hands? Telling people to never fret over finances seems silly when fretting tends to accompany wise and strategic planning on the matter. Can you spell C-O-N A-R-T-I-S-T?
The many commentaries that I consulted on Matthew 6:19-24 strongly target the idea of having the right “motives, attitudes, and thought patterns” about life, money, acquisitions, and possessions. John MacArthur, pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church, specifies this in a sermon I found. John tells us there is a “right view of wealth and luxury” and a “right view of necessities.” Combining that with Jesus’ words that “you cannot serve God and wealth” and that “the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10) makes this an excellent recipe for anxiety and guilt every time you feel acquisitive impulses or sense that you might not have the “right view” [2].
Rust, Wealth, and Oxidation in the Bible
Anytime I read sacred texts describing un-earthly places, I always must ask: how can earthly imagery and language be used to describe a place where earthly laws of nature do not apply? I suppose we would have to use otherworldly language and imagery to describe otherworldly places where our bodies and material possessions do not degrade. But without first visiting and observing those otherworldly places, how can we know the right imagery and language to use?
The Bible mentions “rust,” which today we know corrosion by oxidation to be the hideous result. Unfortunately, the power of antioxidants is not limitless in our industries. Eventually, oxidative damage takes place, and things lose their strength and flexibility.
Anxiety, loss, and the transience of materials are the targets of this message. Since the Bible’s authors had to emphasize treasures and possessions when edifying their readers about general well-being, they likely had their waning economy in mind, much like how we have our global economy in mind today waned by $2.5 trillion in corrosion costs [3].
Fantasy is easy to invent when you are ignorant of the laws of chemistry and physics.
As the Biblical authors did not have microscopes in ancient times, they could not have been aware of redox reactions and the atoms that lose electrons to form positive ions in corrosion. In their pre-microscopy time, it had to be easy for them to imagine a faraway place where iron oxide does not result from the presence of water and moisture in the air. They could not see nor understand iron oxide as the problem.
They were not alive to see the day when humanity would discover the trends of the reducing and oxidizing agents arranged on the periodic table. It would not be until modern times that humanity would realize the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals as the most potent electron donors that can even react with water which has a remarkably decreased concentration of positively charged hydrogen ions [4].
They could not imagine nor portray the specific inner constituents and formula of the anodic dissolution of iron going into an aqueous solution: 2Fe → 2Fe2+ 4e-
They could not imagine nor portray the specific inner constituents and formula of the cathodic reduction of oxygen dissolving into water: O2 + 2H2O + 4e- → 4OH-
They could not imagine the internal world of an iron ion and a hydroxide ion reacting to make iron hydroxide: 2Fe2+ + 4OH- → 2Fe(OH)2
They could not imagine how and why the iron oxide reacts with oxygen to produce red rust, Fe2O3.H2O [5].
The removal of water and moisture can certainly prevent rusting. But since water is indispensable to life, Heaven can not be completely devoid of water and moisture. Right?
So, would Heaven store their metals in low-moisture and humidity-controlled areas?
Would Heaven use alloys or stainless steel? Although, that would only slow down the rusting. Furthermore, it is not ideal for all situations [6].
Would Heaven utilize oil coatings to thwart the rusting? Unfortunately, oil can cause problems for some tools, machines, the environment, and human health [6].
Would Heaven use anti-residue protective barriers, paints, and desiccants on their metals [6]?
What about galvanizing their iron or steel with zinc-coating? Although, that would only slow down the corrosion and not eliminate it completely for Heaven [7].
What about anti-rusting magnetite layers over the metals that must be routinely oiled and will eventually turn blue or black? Blue and black may look repugnant for a place that wants to have streets of gold [6].
What about acrylic, vinyl, epoxy, and other substances that are anti-moisture [6]?
Would Heaven use Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors that release rust-destroying vapors in enclosed air spaces where metal can be kept? This kind of chemical compound is typically used in packaging materials. Does Heaven often need to ship things to people [6]?
Without observing Heaven, how can we know the methods and technology they use to transcend the laws that we cannot transcend here on Earth?
James 5:3
“Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.”
It is funny to me that the Bible would envision the corrosion of gold since gold today is regarded as non-reacting with oxygen, thereby not allowing for rusting or tarnishing. However, the metal beneath the surface can corrode if the finish is not pore-free when exposed to the environment [8]. Perhaps that is what the author and audience of James’ epistle observed without knowing the chemistry?
Even though James 5:3 speaks of gold’s corrosion, Revelation chapter 21 envisions the holy city of Jerusalem with golden streets as it comes down from Heaven, a place that Bible-believers assert is devoid of rusting, tarnishing, corrosion, and other forms of deterioration. Gotquestions. Org tells us that John, the author of the book of Revelation, envisioned those golden streets with transparency reflecting “the pure light of God’s blazing glory” [9].
Gold in the world of antiquity was used for producing jewelry, coinage, building decorations, statues, libation vessels, and votive offerings. Gold often symbolized immortality and power. The Incas believed that gold was sweat belonging to the sun god Inti. Perhaps the author of James 5:3 was trying to use hyperbole as a way to degrade the un-degradable, beloved objects belonging to opulent oppressors employing slaves to adorn shrines, sarcophagi, statues, weapons, etc. And he used that same shiny, precious object of their understanding to attract their attention to the afterlife of his vision and doctrine [10].
How can an afterlife, and the schemes for getting there, be attractive if it does not include something rare, expensive, malleable, and incorruptible like gold?
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All information in this article is intended for educational/entertainment purposes only. This information should not be used as medical/therapeutic advice. Please seek a doctor/therapist for health advice.
Works Cited:
[1] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206%3A19-24&version=NIV
[2] https://www.gty.org/library/study-guides/40-0595/mastering-materialism
[4] https://opentextbc.ca/chemistry/chapter/18-1-periodicity/
[5] https://www.thoughtco.com/how-rust-works-608461
[6] https://www.armorvci.com/news/how-to-prevent-rust-8-ways-for-any-situation/
[9] https://www.gotquestions.org/streets-of-gold.html