“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.** Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)**
Worldly “treasures” in the end, will be found earthly, moth-eaten, perishing and subject to theft. But the Lord Jesus calls His followers to store up treasures in heaven, which are safely kept from moth, rust and thieves. Things which are done in His Name, through His power and for His glory. Are our true treasures present temporal vanities or future eternal glories? It matters. Do we store up for ourselves treasures for this world or for the next? We can often discover ourselves being so caught up with the glitz and the glamor and the accolades of this present world that we miss God’s best for our lives. We do not want to go there. We are to fix our eyes on Jesus as He is the Author and Perfecter of our faith. And further, whatever Jesus says matters. Eternally matters. He wants our hearts and our hearts are always focused on our greatest treasures. Always.
As His people we are to be building, planting and sowing for Heaven yet oftentimes our hearts are buried here in the earth. Indeed, it is a balance, we certainly have to care for our needs and the needs of our families in the here and now but more often than not we go far and above our needs and things can quickly become our treasures. He gives everything for our enjoyment but not for us to live and die for. He often gives and takes away temporal things teaching us to live our lives not with grasped hands rather open ones. He gives and takes away and His Name is always to be praised.
Many profess the hope of heaven who have their hearts buried in this earth – its ways, its wares and its wills. And Paul tells us in Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV): “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” That day will be glorious indeed. We are to concentrate our actions and concerns on the eternal not the temporal which is perishing. God has given us everything for us to enjoy but not to live for and there is a difference. He both gives and takes away and there is purpose in all He allows. Earthly joys and things can ebb and flow. They can thrive and then wither. But eternal joys are abiding, kept safe for us in heaven and no man or circumstance can take this joy from the believer. Christ is keeping it safe for us. We have His Word on it.
Remember as well, if we enjoy all the earthly blessings imaginable yet maintain a guilty conscience toward God and no peace within - without God and without Christ in this world - we are of all people to be pitied.
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.** Philippians 3:20-21 (NIV)**