Life on this earth is very short. We were reminded this week that God gives us a gift of time on this earth and then we die. It is that simple. We were saddened by the accident on Smith Mountain Lake this week and the loss of Roger Dale Goad. Roger was the Plyler crew chief everyone called “Peanut.” We are thankful that Richard wasn’t killed on the barge as well. We spend our lifetime building up treasures here on earth. Some spend their lifetime building wealth. Some spend their time building up a good name, sharing love, and building up people.
We have a choice how we spend our time on this earth. We can either spend every day complaining about our lives, our friends, our health, our family, our job, and our church family or we can share the love of Jesus Christ instead.
Matthew 6:19-24 tells us that we should store up our treasures in heaven. If the treasure can rust or be eaten by moths then it may be not be a prized treasure. Matthew 6:19-24 says “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Okay, the story goes that we can’t take it with us when we go to heaven. If that is the case, what kind of treasure can we store up in heaven? Any ideas? The criteria for earthly treasures that aren’t any good are treasures that rust, get eaten by moths or get stolen by thieves. Verse 21 gives us a hint of our true treasure. It says that our true treasure is where our heart is also. I can think of five things that are in our heart. First, our love for family and friends is in our heart. Second, the love of Jesus Christ is in our heart. Third, our heart stores our spirit. Fourth, our heart connects our spirit to the power of the Holy Spirit. Fifth, our heart is the door into our salvation and eternal life.
Love cannot be stolen. Love cannot rust. Love cannot be eaten by moths. Love is what lasts beyond our lifetimes. Love is the real treasure. I’ve read that our souls are made up of two parts: our physical body and our spirit. Our spirit connects into the Holy Spirit. Our spirit is what lasts after our physical body dies. Love is the treasure that ties our future life in heaven to our life here on earth.
Why do we spend so much time buying treasures that rust or that could be stolen? Why do we brag so much about our treasure that is temporary? Why do we spend months buying something that looks good, but doesn’t have a real value in the scheme of our eternal lives? Why do we fight about these rusting and temporary treasures?
If love is the treasure that lasts, why do we spend so much time with anger and hate in our lives? We have an obligation to share our treasures with as many people as possible during our time on this earth. The easiest way to have more time for love is to stop loving things and start loving people. We have more time for love and more ability to love if we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
I met a woman on my first trip to Bugiya, Ghana in September 2003. I have a video of her singing a song with me and the children of that village. The song was “Hallelujah, Amen, Jesu Lullima” or “Jesus Loves Me.” I remember her because she was very enthusiastic as she sang about the love of Jesus Christ. At the same time, she couldn’t clap with the beat of the music.
In 2005, I learned that her name was Alice. Alice would ask me to pray for her into being a Christian every time that I saw her. Usually, she would ask me to pray for her before I preached in an open air service. I prayed and prayed until I couldn’t pray anymore. I tried to pray her into being a Christian. I would pray until sweat would roll down my brow. I also learned that she was a witch. She put her trust in Satan instead of God.
Alice loved things that could rust or be stolen. Alice bought things that had the power of Satan in them. Those evil treasures were called talismans. I finally told Alice one day that I would not pray for her to become a Christian any longer. I told Alice that she had to make a decision. She had to choose Satan or God. Alice also needs to burn her evil treasures to be able to worship God. Alice could no longer sit on the fence singing songs about Jesus and using her evil treasures.
Alice had to choose for herself. The best analogy is “You can take a horse to water, but you cannot make her drink.” I could take Alice to God, but I could not make her choose God. You see, salvation is a free gift, but the hitch is --- we must make that choice for ourselves. Do we choose the love of Jesus Christ in our lives or do we choose the things of this world.
Alice chose the things of this world. I stopped making her feel good and told her the hard truth. She has a choice to make. Alice chose the treasures that are evil, but are comfortable for her. Do I want to see Alice change her choice? Yes, you bet, but it is her decision. I’ve shared God’s word with her in many church services. It is up to her to hear God’s word and to take action.
Matthew 6:22-24 tells us “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
The eyes are truly the lamp of the body. Our eyes will shine with light if the light of Jesus Christ is in our hearts. Our eyes will be deep poles of darkness if we are full of evil. I’ve seen an eleven year old boy who was full of demons. I looked into his eyes and I saw nothing but evil. The evil inside was so frightening that it made my skin crawl. I was an adult. He was just a child, but I knew evil when I saw it. He was so full of darkness. The eyes are the window into our souls. We can see the light of Jesus Christ shining out or we can see the depths of evil.
Matthew 6:24 continues “24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Let’s expand money to include earthly treasures that money can buy. We can either serve God or we can serve earthly treasures. It is our choice. We can’t do both. We can’t love God and love things that rust, get eaten by moths, or can be stolen by thieves.
Isaiah 39:1-4 tells us what happens to a King of Israel who falls in love with earthly treasures instead of God. I could talk a long time about how bad Hezekiah was as a king. Isaiah 39:1-4 states “1 At that time Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery. 2 Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine oil, his entire armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them. 3 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, "What did those men say, and where did they come from?" From a distant land," Hezekiah replied. "They came to me from Babylon."
The prophet asked, "What did they see in your palace?" "They saw everything in my palace," Hezekiah said. "There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them."
King Hezekiah was proud of his earthly treasures. Actually, they were treasures that were gathered by many kings of Israel. King David and King Solomon were blessed with many of the treasures that King Hezekiah showed off to their enemies from Babylon. King Hezekiah’s tour of the palace treasures was like giving the future thief a tour of your home and pointing out everything of value for the thief to take away.
The tour of the palace went something like this “Wait until I show you the golden serving dishes and silver goblets that we use for special occasions. The golden serving dishes keep the meat hot while we are entertaining in the palace. I really like all of the Jewish things of worship that have meant so much to the Hebrews over many centuries. Over here, we have locked up all of the rubies, diamonds, and other valuable jewelry that my wives get to wear when they are in my presence.
Aren’t my palaces and temples great? We have one of a kind marble statues and art work. How much is all of it worth? I guess our treasures are priceless. Hezekiah didn’t mention God at all on his tour of his kingdom.
The prophet Isaiah asked King Hezekiah where the men were from. King Hezekiah told him that they came from Babylon. It was like showing the foxes where the golden eggs were laid in the hen house. It was like showing the jewel thief the greatest collection of golden crowns, diamond necklaces, and jeweled bracelets that the world had ever seen. The prophet Isaiah didn’t have to be a prophet to know that this proud king was about to be robbed of all of his precious earthly treasures.
King Hezekiah took his eye off of God. King Hezekiah placed the earthly treasures into his heart instead of God’s love. Do you remember the story of Peter walking on water to get to Jesus? Peter was fine while he was walking on water in the storm until Peter looked at the waves and listened to the wind. Peter took his eyes off of Jesus Christ for just one moment, but it was long enough for Peter to start sinking into the water. King Hezekiah took his eyes off of God and looked at the earthly treasures that could be seen in his palace.
We don’t live in a royal palace, but we do collect earthly things. We can either love God or love our earthly treasures. Susan and I have talked this week about the things that clutter our house. Those things are called earthly treasures. Susan went to the Stepping Stones food pantry on Thursday to serve lunch to the hungry. She gave of herself. Susan gave part of her love to those that came to be served that day. She didn’t get paid with earthly treasures, but she received treasures that will be waiting for her in heaven.
Matthew 19:16-22 tells us the story of a young man who wants to follow Jesus Christ except his earthly possessions are getting in the way. It tells “Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" 17"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself."
20"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" 21Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
The young man could not part with all of his earthly possessions. He was too proud of them to give them away or sell them. The young rich man was celebrating those things that rust, get eaten by moths, or stolen by thieves. The rich young man did not realize that our true treasure is where our heart is also. Our true treasure is our love for others, our love of Jesus Christ, our spirit, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Do you realize that none of our true treasures can be purchased or sold? Our true treasures can be given away and yet never run out. The more love that we share causes our hearts to expand to hold even more love in the future. God’s love never runs out.
Today is the day that Jesus Christ is asking us “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” I believe those possessions are anything that takes us away from the love of Jesus Christ.
The possessions cherished by Alice were purchased for the evil power that they contained. The possessions that we cherish that causes us to not love others are the ones that Jesus is asking us to sell today.
Jesus is asking us to sell the possessions that cause us to be like King Hezekiah who was proud, boastful, and very shallow. King Hezekiah did not have a personal relationship with God. King Hezekiah worried more about his wealth than about his faith and walk with God.
If we have treasures that cause heartache and pain to our church family, those treasures are like the treasures loved by Alice. They are evil. If we have treasures that cause hurt and pain to our family and friends, those treasures are evil.
Go out today and decide whether your treasure brings you closer to the love of Jesus Christ or it takes you farther away from God’s love. Today is the day to start storing up your treasures in heaven. It will also be possible to leave your treasures here on earth that no thief can steal. All of the love that you give during your lifetime will be cherished greater that any gold or silver or any other treasure. The day that we die, people will remember the way that we loved, we encouraged, we strengthened, and we shared our love of Jesus
Jesus Christ can be with us in amazing ways. Go sell, give away, or burn whatever it is that is keeping you from the love of Jesus Christ. The treasures that you’ve stored up in heaven will be talked about for many generations because the people who received the love of Jesus Christ from you will in turn share their treasure with the next generation of God’s people.
The power of the Holy Spirit will transform many people who were without hope before God came in their lives. Your love and the love of Jesus Christ will withstand the test of time. Your love and the love of Jesus Christ will bless so many people with a heavenly treasure that will last many lifetimes. Jesus was right. We must store up treasures in heaven like love and give up earthly treasures that take us away from God. Amen!
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