06/26/2020
It is so easy to look at what we have received in our earthly life, and gauge God’s good provision for us on those things alone. We tend to look at the transient, and temporary, things we have here, and now, and say either that our God is great, or that He is lacking in the blessings He gives to us. This is what we are preparing to do when we compare our present station in life with that of another’s. By doing this we aren’t sizing up our accomplishments, but determining if our God is better to us, or to someone else. We are not trusting that even though He rewards us on earth, our most precious rewards are those He stores up for us in heaven.
““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 ESV
When I was a Boy Scout I liked to go backpacking, and when you do this you want to carry a light pack that contains just the essentials you might need, but nothing more. The idea is to survive, but not to weigh yourself down with things that aren’t necessary for the journey. In so doing I had one possession that I prized beyond most, and that was my Swiss Army Knife. This was a single pocket knife that contained many tools:
This was every boy’s dream knife, and although none of the tools performed as well as the Full sized real thing, they each did the job, and gave us the ability to survive while carrying very little weight. This is the way we should look at our lives; we should journey through the earthly portion of them carrying as little earthly baggage as we can, because our faith, which weights nothing, is our greatest possession, but we will grow weary if we burden our heart with what is earthly.
“Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.”
Luke 10:3-4 ESV
While on the trail, I knew that at the end of this short journey the full sized luxuries were awaiting me at home, just as we should know that our real treasure awaits us in heaven. You see, my Swiss Army Knife was a prized possession while hiking, but once I returned home I put it in my camping box, and began using the full sized instruments like forks, knives, screwdrivers, and my comfortable bed. I travelled light while on the trail, but always knew that my real life awaited me at the end of my trip, and that my luxuries, and treasures were there for me.
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Colossians 3:2 ESV
I read a statement written by a Quaker writer that expressed this same thought, and lamented as hell realized that he put too much emphasis on his hike through his earthly life. Listen to what he had to say:
“Earthly blessings are but a taste of our heavenly blessings. The loss of earthly things teaches us to be more mindful of the permanent things of heaven. I lament that I am so earthly-minded and think so little of my heavenly home.” - John Bradford
So God blesses us, rewards us, and gives us many fine gifts, but looking simply at what we have in this world reveals that our heart is not in heaven, our eyes are not fixed on Jesus, and that our faith is just a shadow of what it should be. Today, as we travel through this portion of our journey, let’s look at where our heart is, and gauge the bounty of our faith on what we have stored up in heaven... not what we have gathered here, and now, in this world. God gives His children much... do we see it?
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
Matthew 7:11 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your provision, and all the blessings, gifts, and rewards you bestow on us. Thank you Lord for what you give us in this life, but make it meager Heavenly Father, so that our journey here can be swift, and our eyes remain on what awaits us in our heavenly home. Help us to focus on your Son Jesus Christ, and walk on this earth as He walked; caring little for earthly treasures, and traveling speedily as He delivered the message of redemption, and grace, to all who would listen to Him. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who furnishes our heavenly homes with wonderful gifts, and gives us only what we need now to traverse this wilderness. We praise you Father for all that you do for us now, and all the beauty here that reminds us of the magnificence what awaits at the end of this trail. We praise you most, and with all our being for what you are placing for us in heavenly places for our eternal use and pleasure. Hear our prayers Lord as we go about this pilgrimage, doing your will, and serving you in love with all of our hearts, minds, souls, and strength. Give us our prayerful desires by rationing to us what we need now to do your will, and storing the remainder in heavenly larders. You are merciful Father, allowing us to suffer no more than we can bear, and you are full of grace... forgiving those moments when our eyes look upon the earthly treasures with desire. Help us to travel light through this world, as we follow our hearts towards you, and love what lies ahead in Christ more than what we have left behind in this world. Thank you for the eternity that awaits us with you, and the storehouses of treasure that you have filled on our behalf... waiting there, even as we suffer here, for our eminent arrival, and eternal use.
“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:12 ESV
Rich Forbes