“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)**
God desires for His children to be zealous for Him and not for this world. To run, as the great Apostle stated, so as to obtain the prize. The world He gave to us for our enjoyment but not to live for. This earth is passing away and will never fully satisfy are our God given souls. It was never created to. God alone accomplishes that in our lives so that we are no longer wanting and seeking – never content – never filled - always desirous of more and more. We are so slow to learn that these desires are merely strange counterfeits – sandboxes in lieu of the sea shore as Lewis once quipped.
God desires for us to be fervent in spirit, guided by the Word rather than our own whims and fancy – eagerly expecting our praise from Him and not from man or the world. Scripture tells us in Romans 12:11-12 (NIV): “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Samuel Ward stated: “Such a man’s worth cannot be set forth with the tongues of men and angels.” Zeal always desires more. Indeed, Satan and the world loathes a zealous heart for the Lord but what great rewards God Himself confers upon it.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV): “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 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. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
Do we desire to feel the heat or know the nature of heavenly zeal? It gives the soul intensity, power and abilities beyond our natural propensities through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Nothing is too hard for Him. It is the Great Adventure for which we were all called for. We are to nip our lame excuses and keep our eyes fixed upon Him rather than our own agendas. His desires for us are far greater that what eye can see, ear can hear or mind conceive. We are the ultimate losers by neglecting the great call to be zealous.
“The LORD said to Moses, ‘Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them, so that in my zeal I did not put an end to them. Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him. He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites.’”** Numbers 25:10-13 (NIV)**