“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance”. (2 Pet. 3:9-11).
A lovely welcome to another blessed weekend! I trust your week has been fruitful by the love of God which knows no end, Amen!
Over the past fortnight, I have been intrigued by the full force of visits by Hurricanes: Harvey, ‘the Great Irma,’ Katia and Jose on the Caribbean Islands and the south-eastern part of USA. Wow, what a show of force! Nature at its very best! I also observed closely how these hurricanes as they made their respective landfall paid respect to no one: great or small; rich or poor; old or young; educated or non-educated; sick or healthy; they paid no heed to race, background or faith. In fact they cared less about anything or anyone.
The effects of natural disasters [flood, fire, blizzards, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc.] when they occur is massive. It is also through these events that you see humanity at its best! As I read articles and stories first on hurricane Harvey in Texas, I saw first-hand how people moved in to help those in need of dire help without recourse to the fact that they were putting their own lives at risk.
A strikingly significant fact as I watched international news networks was that I did not hear of anybody searching for their cooking pots or groceries, sofas or mattresses; neither did I hear of people wading deep in the flood waters in search of electrical gadgets nor their cars. Instead what they searched endlessly for were human lives.
As I watched properties being destroyed by strong winds and a persistent hammering of rain, I marvelled at how a single individual could own an Island all to themselves. An archipelago of islands created by God to be enjoyed by all belongs to one person all because that person has cash, an abundance of cash, in fact an over flow of cash I must add. I noticed how also the Dutch, British, French and Americans had annexed territories for themselves on these small islands. For instance it baffled me that one island was divided into two: St. Martin and St. Marteen (pronounced same) belonging to their colonial Masters—the French & Dutch respectively. Then there is also American Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands. Activities here on earth are indeed interesting.
During one of the days, as I was watching on television the destructive path of Irma in particular on the Barbuda Island, the Holy Spirit reminded me of this scripture: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt. 6:19-21)
President Trump in addressing the State of Florida said “Properties are replaceable, human lives are irreplaceable. Listen to evacuation orders, get out and stay safe” (paraphrased). These are the kind of orders that humans can easily obey. Why? That is because with such events like natural disasters, we have seen first-hand what can happen to us if we do not steer clear of them.
And yet when it comes to the advice issued out by the Lord God Almighty to be mindful of where we store our treasures, we are completely deaf with our ears comfortably accommodating the thickest of wax, if there is anything like that. Our hearts are also made of stone to the extent that any attempt by the Lord at softening it is resisted. I kept asking myself, how many Bibles could have gone round some corner in the world with for instance the worth of Richard Branson’s Necker Island on the British Virgin Islands. We could also send thousands on missionary journeys around the world to spread the good news to mankind.
Beloved, you must be careful of what it is that motivates your life. This planet called earth that we are living on will definitely pass away. Scripture tells us “[The Day of the Lord] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (2 Pet.3:9-11)
Consistently, the Bible has warned us that this world will not last forever. Everything in this world will burn up; everything including plants, animals, the ocean and whatever list you are able to come up with. It will ALL be wiped away. John tells us of the vision revealed to him in the Book of Revelations 21:1 “Then I saw a new heaven and new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more”. [Check Matt. 5:18; 2 Pet. 3:13; Is. 65:17].
But I have news for you because if you are thinking that you will vanish with the earth, then you are wrong. The physical heaven and earth, if you may, call it the material world in which we find ourselves is what will be destroyed by fire. (Scripture tells us how this world will come to an end in 2 Pet. 3:11-112; Gen. 9:11; Is. 34:14, 51:6.) Our souls / spirits will not be destroyed. They will be ushered into either eternal rest or eternal destruction. They will live in another universe (the New Jerusalem) that will never ever be contaminated by sin.
Is it any wonder the Lord tells us to be wary of where we store our treasures? As I watched the millions of people who have had their properties running into millions of whatever currency I cannot help but simply applaud the Lord for who He is. Not for the reason that several destructions were ongoing but that He knew and forewarned us. He told us not to invest in this world, because in just a split moment we will lose it all.
Knowing and believing that this event will surely come to pass, should help us put our perspectives in order. Where, beloved are you storing your treasures? In fact perhaps the order of questioning should be this:
- What treasures are you securing for yourself whilst here on earth?
- Where are you storing those treasures?
- Is your storehouse eternity-proof?
When Jesus spoke of storing up treasures in heaven, He linked it to the desires of our hearts. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will also be (Matt. 6:21). I am convinced that the treasure that believers should go seeking after relentlessly or ceaselessly, or persistently is JESUS.
You see, very often we spend most of our resources be it time, money, energy into what we love or love to do. Nobody wastes any resources on something they abhor or do not like. Jesus is very right in linking our treasures to the condition of our hearts. When Jesus is our treasure our focus becomes directed at Him.
Remember the story of the rich young man in the Bible who Jesus asked to sell his possessions, then commit fully to Him? The young man’s problem was not about the fact that he was rich; his problem was that he treasured his wealth. He was not interested in treasuring what he could have in Christ Jesus. In the end he could not have Jesus because he opted for the treasures of this world and therefore, could not lay up any treasures for himself in heaven.
It is important that we remain faithful to Jesus and treasure what we stand to benefit in Him. All that He has endowed you with in this world must be used for His sake – giving to the needy, caring for the sick, ministering to the lost about the good news of Christ Jesus, etc. These are some of the ways by which we lay up treasures for ourselves in heaven. Whatever possession you have must be used to advance His kingdom.
The Bible is rife with the blessings or treasures that await children of God. It weighs far beyond any trouble, inconvenience, or persecution we may face. We ought to serve the Lord whole heartedly knowing that ultimately He keeps the scores and His reward is abundantly gracious. We must treasure Jesus and “always give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).
Beloved the greatest treasure that you can lay up for yourself in heaven is this: “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus–the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” (Acts 20:24).
Like Apostle Paul, we must live our lives in such a way that the Kingdom of God will be advanced. This is the greatest investment that we must seek to make and not be swindled by the riches that this world offers. Riches that ultimately lead to eternal damnation. The opening scripture above tells us that for the reason that Christ has not yet come does not mean it will not happen. It will. He will come again. This time it will be for the last time ever. He will come on a mission to set up a new Heaven and Earth. He has graciously given us time, so that at His coming, we will not be found wanting. Only those who have invested in heaven will enjoy the New Heaven.
Where will you store your treasures? The choice is yours!
Until next week,
Stay Blessed!
Weekend Motivation
“Therefore thus saith the Lord, Who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale” (Is. 29:22)
Abraham’s object of shame and reproach was his childlessness! God changed all that by giving him a son at his old age, when all hope was lost! Your own case too shall be exceptionally different!
I pray that the Lord will wipe away every foundation and platform of shame from your life! You shall not inherit a strange name, which God has not given you! Your name will continue to attract honour, respect and dignity! In Jesus Precious name.
Have a great weekend!
The Saving Grace
…with Akpene Sabah
