April 10, 2006 – WISE UP!
The Lord has great plans for all of us! Our God is the God of the present as well as eternity; all of His plans have eternal consequences. Most of us are really concerned about our future here on earth and so we consciously plan for it. Many of us give little or no thought of laying up treasures in heaven to be enjoyed by us in that eternal state. I believe that “rewards” earned down here equal the type and amount of rewards and positions assigned to us in heaven. Matthew 25:27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ God gives us talents and gifts of His Spirit to bring others into His kingdom. The most important words in eternity will be: Matthew 25:23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ God’s goodness and love is given to us to share with our friends and our enemies. Everything God gives us has an eternal purpose.
We lay up riches in this world, but they are temporary for our treasures will belong to someone else when we depart this life. True riches are eternal and will follow us to our heavenly abode. 1Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. The treasures we send ahead of us lay a firm foundation for our eternal life with God.
May God give us spiritual vision to behold the things that He has prepared for them who love Him. We know He has prepared for us a glorious and perfect city, New Jerusalem. ~The New Jerusalem Revelations 21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. Revelations 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. He has also prepared for us mansions: John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. We also will receive a crown: 1Corinthians 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
Greater than any other reward is the presence of our Lord Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit now and for eternity. Revelations 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. COL 3:4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
We can spend our time and money now to bring in souls for God’s kingdom or spend all of our money on ourselves. We can feed the poor or clothe the destitute and we will gain friends in heaven! Jesus said, “whatsoever you do to the least of these, you do unto me.” We can go to heaven naked and destitute of rewards or go rich and blessed because of our obedience to love others as ourselves. We are worldly savvy and yet the best investment we can make is treasures in heaven. Our treasures for the here and now can be fleeting. Matthew 6:20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. When we live our life only planning for this life, then we are myopic and can not see far off.
We have the opportunity now to furnish our life-to-come with great joy and riches. Luke 12:20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” James 2:5 Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? We will behold the treasures we have laid up in heaven for eternity. What better treasure than the face of a sinner that we plucked from the burning and brought to Jesus for all eternity. Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
It is time to “wise up” and prepare for our eternal future. 1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Matthew 22:11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. 13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” Isaiah 62:11 The LORD has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.'” Hebrews 10:34 You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. Isaiah 3:10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.
The Lord be with you and richly bless you!
ANITA
