- Jun 29, 2019
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Who doesn’t love treasures? Many of us spend a lot of time pursuing them on earth. Many others hope for treasures to fall in their lap. Many have at times obsessed, at least, with treasure that can be found on earth by our own efforts or from the misfortune of others. There is no doubt of us finding we live in a material world, but that we consider treasures are the type that is referred to in Matthew 6:20 as treasures that ‘moths or rust may destroy,’ and at the risk of going out on a limb here, that verse was meant to just provide examples of such material earthly treasures. Things like fire, water and wind are other examples that can destroy earthly treasures.
For those who have no faith in God, and who have no faith through Jesus, the earthly treasures are the only things they know and pursue, not appreciating that whatever is found on earth is subject to earth’s evils, not to mention they aren’t theirs forever. We are made aware of these people all the time. They’re the ones who invariably and unwittingly, perhaps, destroy some of the very things that God has created for us. They are of little faith, if not without faith entirely.
The faith referred to here is faith in God and facilitated by Jesus. What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says it is the assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen. In essence, faith amounts to things that cannot be physically touched. On earth the assurance of things hoped for cannot be physically touched. That’s like someone telling you you can win millions if you play the lottery; until that happens, all you have is the person’s word which cannot be touched with your hands. Also on earth, the conviction alone of things not seen cannot be physically touched. We may hold, for instance, that something like Mt. Rushmore exists. We may be told by someone who hasn’t actually seen Mt. Rushmore or touched any part of that mountain, but may have seen it in a photo, that it exists. We may be told that the current President is looking to have his face added to those on that mountain. In that scenario, one’s faith goes awry. The only assurance we have there is that there is no certainty in any faith that is based on what the earth may provide.
Faith in God is based on an absolute assurance that God exists, and we are convinced of His Existence even though we the living have never seen him, let alone touched him. When Jesus says to Thomas in John 20:29 “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” after he held up his hand for Thomas to see the nail marks and having Thomas touch his side, he is inferring that one’s faith alone of God’s existence matters more that whatever one may see or not see.
And as Jesus imparted on anyone who listened to him, it is what you do with that faith that matters. As he said in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” The will of the father includes giving to the poor and needy. This is implied in Proverbs 19:17 which says “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” Which brings us to the idea of treasures in Heaven.
What treasures can be found in Heaven? They don’t involve material things. Jesus says in Matthew 6:20 to lay up for yourself treasures in Heaven which cannot be destroyed. Such treasures include the Grace He conveys on you and things like justifying and glorifying you in return for things He would expect you to do in your faith in him. To love God is to include having faith in Him enough to know what He expects from you and to carry through. As alluded to in Romans 8:28-30, with a nod to Psalms 139:14, God has called on each of us in accordance with abilities He has given us.
Those who make it to Heaven have been justified and glorified by Him. The treasures that are in Heaven are what Heaven has to offer upon God’s Grace in answering His Calling to do what He expects from us.
For those who have no faith in God, and who have no faith through Jesus, the earthly treasures are the only things they know and pursue, not appreciating that whatever is found on earth is subject to earth’s evils, not to mention they aren’t theirs forever. We are made aware of these people all the time. They’re the ones who invariably and unwittingly, perhaps, destroy some of the very things that God has created for us. They are of little faith, if not without faith entirely.
The faith referred to here is faith in God and facilitated by Jesus. What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says it is the assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen. In essence, faith amounts to things that cannot be physically touched. On earth the assurance of things hoped for cannot be physically touched. That’s like someone telling you you can win millions if you play the lottery; until that happens, all you have is the person’s word which cannot be touched with your hands. Also on earth, the conviction alone of things not seen cannot be physically touched. We may hold, for instance, that something like Mt. Rushmore exists. We may be told by someone who hasn’t actually seen Mt. Rushmore or touched any part of that mountain, but may have seen it in a photo, that it exists. We may be told that the current President is looking to have his face added to those on that mountain. In that scenario, one’s faith goes awry. The only assurance we have there is that there is no certainty in any faith that is based on what the earth may provide.
Faith in God is based on an absolute assurance that God exists, and we are convinced of His Existence even though we the living have never seen him, let alone touched him. When Jesus says to Thomas in John 20:29 “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” after he held up his hand for Thomas to see the nail marks and having Thomas touch his side, he is inferring that one’s faith alone of God’s existence matters more that whatever one may see or not see.
And as Jesus imparted on anyone who listened to him, it is what you do with that faith that matters. As he said in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” The will of the father includes giving to the poor and needy. This is implied in Proverbs 19:17 which says “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” Which brings us to the idea of treasures in Heaven.
What treasures can be found in Heaven? They don’t involve material things. Jesus says in Matthew 6:20 to lay up for yourself treasures in Heaven which cannot be destroyed. Such treasures include the Grace He conveys on you and things like justifying and glorifying you in return for things He would expect you to do in your faith in him. To love God is to include having faith in Him enough to know what He expects from you and to carry through. As alluded to in Romans 8:28-30, with a nod to Psalms 139:14, God has called on each of us in accordance with abilities He has given us.
Those who make it to Heaven have been justified and glorified by Him. The treasures that are in Heaven are what Heaven has to offer upon God’s Grace in answering His Calling to do what He expects from us.
