Understand that eternity exists
Like the universe, every man has a beginning. Unlike the universe, man does not have an end. He will exist forever.
While we will exist forever, our eternal destiny is determined only by our behavior during the few decades that we live on earth. Once we die, our destination, and state and level of happiness, or sadness, is fixed and unchangeable, and will remain that way for all eternity.
These profound truths, taught in the Bible, have implications…
The implication is that how we live while on this earth has tremendous importance and leverage. It is important to grasp this because once you grasp it properly it will change your thinking! Specifically, unless you are a fool, or unless you are deceived, no longer will you want to waste an opportunity to increase your treasure, and no longer will you want to do anything that will jeopardize or reduce your eternal treasure.
Think of this… suppose I tell you that for every dollar you give me today, and for the next 30 days, I will give you a million dollars one year from now. Won’t you want to give me everything you can?
God has put us in a similar situation…every treasure we store up in heaven before we die will reap infinite benefit in eternity. It is a wonderful bargain, but we must have the eyes to see it!
Remember what Jesus told the rich young ruler?
Mt 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
Jesus was telling the rich young ruler to exchange earthly treasure for heavenly treasure. He tells us the same thing too!
And remember the parable of the foolish rich man? What were the last statements Jesus made there?
Lk 12:20-21 "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
If you don’t use this life to create heavenly treasure, you are a fool, says the Master whom you follow!
Therefore, let your eyes be opened to this truth, and let it change your thinking and your perspective of how to live while on this earth. Make sure you don’t forget it! There is an eternity of treasure awaiting you in the future, but you have to build in up today, and tomorrow, and the day after, until you die.
So find the talents that God has given you to build His kingdom and use it faithfully.
Paul saw this clearly, and this is what he said in 1 Cor 9:23-27.
1 Cor 9:23-27 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Here is a poem that nicely brings out what I’m trying to say, and is worth memorizing…
One Life To Live
You’ve got a single life, you know,
So make the most of it;
Let every day, your treasure grow,
Don’t waste it bit by bit.
The years that come before you age,
Are clean and fresh and bright;
They are all yours, like empty page,
Upon which you must write.
When they pass by, they don’t come back,
They’re gone forever, friend;
So walk God’s way, like train on track,
Until the very end.
The Master waits with great reward,
If you have done your job;
In faith and hope and love do walk,
And thus you’ll please your Lord.
While you are building your treasure in heaven, there is one more rather important thing to remember… life is not really all about amassing treasure for yourself, even treasure in heaven… it’s about gratefully doing what pleases your Father in heaven. Let that gratefulness be the perfume that surrounds you as you go about building your treasure in heaven.
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