Are Yours Eternal?

Matthew 6:19-21

“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.”

I’m beginning to think of myself as a broken record that gets stuck and repeats the same thing over and over.  As I read the words of Jesus above, I must ask do you and I believe Jesus tells the truth?   Is it not apparent to each of us, to some degree, that are laying up treasures on this earth, treasures that if lost would bring us great stress and I’m not even talking about gold and silver, or house or riches, but what about health, children, grandchildren, businesses, and jobs. 

Most of us understand the treasures of this earth will decay, and yet we often will not confront the truth that our earth suits are decaying, and Jesus tells us to be on guard because the thief of your soul is always looking for an opening to steal your peace, your joy, and his goal is to kill and destroy you.  So how can a person lay up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal?

I’ve discovered two amazing investments that have eternal value, one is investing in people, for God has said in the book of Daniel chapter 12:2, “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”  Do you recall the story of the final judgment in Matthew 25, if not, take a moment to read the account and remember it is not man who is saying this but Jesus who always tells the truth: “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” 

Now Jesus has not promised this earthsuit will not decay, but He has promised that all who come to Him by faith will live forever.  Look at John 10:28, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”  Would you agree that people are a very wise investment, because this life is very short, but all will spend eternity in heaven or hell?

The second item to invest your life in is the Bible, God’s written word, your handbook on living life on planet earth.  For we find in Psalm 119:9, this council to a young man; “How can a young man keep his way pure?  By guarding it according to your word.”  Nor does the Psalmist stop but tells us, “Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.”  (Psalm 119:89, ESV)  Do you recall that Jesus cannot lie and this is what He said about His written word: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away,”  (John 24:35) we also have the apostle Peter sharing this insight: “but the word of the Lord stands forever.”  And this is the word that was preached to you.” (1 Peter1: 25)

A wise person revisits their investments on a regular basic!  Are yours eternal, or have they began to rot?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice