LAYING UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN
(By: Norm Rasmussen)
Some readers unfamiliar with the New Testament Bible may not have any understanding about this very important subject matter of 'laying up treasures in heaven,' so it would only be right to give the Bible scripture that addresses this topic. Jesus Christ is the one doing the speaking:
'Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin 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
Here's the first thing we need to know about laying up for ourselves treasures in heaven: In most cases, it requires NO money! (Though the sowing of our financial gifts as unto the Lord is a very important part of "laying up for ourselves treasures in heaven." Most of us have heard that money will not buy happiness for all that long in this life, but we need to understand that it SURE WILL bring a lot of joy throughout eternity when it is used in this life to invest in God's Kingdom work. ["God's Kingdom work" means to invest in Soul Winning, and then Discipleship of that soul after becoming saved from his/her sins. You can click on the "Kingdom Of God" link just below to learn more about God's Kingdom work].
In addition to finances, here is a list of the most VALUABLE 'treasures' we can invest in the Kingdom of Heaven, or also expressed as the Kingdom Of God. The order they are listed in does not suggest their importance as one being more important than another:
1) Prayer - Praying primarily for lost souls and deliverance for God's people.
2) Witnessing - Soul winning
3) Helping others - Showing our unconditional love to others (Ministering to others in various ways, in other words. This are NUMEROUS ways to minister to others)
4) Bible study - Primarily to be adequately capable of ministering the Word of God to others, which implies the desire of looking for opportunities to do so
5) Diligently pursuing sanctification (Striving to resist temptation to sin, in other words)
By clicking on each of the above, a more detailed explanation is given as to WHY they are so valuable.
Many Christians have not done much intense research into the subject of 'Eternal Rewards.' The subject is EXTREMELY important. If it wasn't, the Holy Spirit would have never included Matthew 6:19-21 in the Bible.
Had the Holy Spirit omitted Matthew 6:19-21 completely, one could then assume that heaven will be the same for everyone. BUT IT WON'T BE! There is too much in the Bible that tells us there will be varying rewards for what we do ONCE we become spiritually born again as is spoken of in John Chapter 3.
It is one thing to become saved, saved from the penalty for our sins. It is quite ANOTHER to begin laying up for ourselves treasures in heaven AFTER we have become saved. Don't let anyone or anything try to convince you differently!
Dear Reader - are you at peace with God? If not, you can be. Do you know what awaits you when you die? You can have the assurance from God that heaven will be your home, if you would like to be certain. You can even have that assurance RIGHT NOW! Either Jesus Christ died for your sins, or He didn't (He did!). Are you prepared to stand before God on the Judgment Day and tell Him that you didn't need the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross to have your sins forgiven and get in right-standing with God? We plead with you...please don't make such a tragic mistake.
To get to know God, to be at peace with God, to have your sins forgiven, to make certain heaven will be your home for eternity, to make certain that you are in right-standing with God right now ... please click here to help you understand the importance of being reconciled to God. What you do about being reconciled to God will determine where you will spend eternity, precious one. Your decision to be reconciled to God is the most important decision you'll ever make in this life, because in Christ, it is impossible to put a value on the worth of your soul in light of eternity.
PLEASE HELP US HELP YOU SHARE THE BEST NEWS GOD HAS FOR EVERY PERSON BECAUSE...
Remember: All that we do in this life comes back to our God-given purpose which is to serve and glorify God. The money and assets we accumulate, the fame and power we've attained or seek to attain - all of the things of this nature will one day pass away, but those lives of others we impact for Jesus Christ will last for eternity, and we will be rewarded for the part we helped play by impacting those lives ... for eternity. (Matthew 6:19-20 is our assurance)