Text: Luke 18:22 NKJV
Further Reading: Luke 18:18-26
So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Luke 18:22 NKJV
MESSAGE
When the scripture spoke about laying up our treasures in heaven where they won’t be corrupt, many believers today do not yet understand the full concept and reason behind it. This is because earthly treasures will fade with time and their value will depreciate. As the preacher, king Solomon said, they will all be left behind for someone else who has not laboured for it. He said that if such is a fool, he will waste them (Ecclesiastes 2:18-19).
We are not saying that believers should not leave an inheritance for their children. Even the Bible says that a good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
Proverbs 13:22 NKJV
Though it is good to leave a material inheritance for them, it is best if they are given spiritual inheritance in Christ Jesus. It is best to train them in the fear of God and bring them up gracefully in knowing God.
Until a man sees the invisible riches of Christ, He will not leave the treasures of Egypt. It is my greatest prayer that the Lord will open your eyes of understanding to see the rich and incorruptible inheritance which Christ has kept for you in Jesus’ Name.
That was what Moses saw that made him forsake Egypt. He took a proper estimation and realised that riches, treasures, and even the throne of Egypt is not worth what God is offering Him. He would not trade the eternal riches of God reserved for him for the ephemeral treasures of this world. (Hebrews 11:24-27).
The only reason why your pastor or leader is begging and forcing you to be holy is that you have not seen the eternal riches of Christ. When a man sees the inheritance that God is offering, he will no longer toy with sin.
Young people who decided to take the high roads in life partying, living in immorality, drunken, gambling, addicted to drugs and violence, and other vices are doing it because they have not seen the true riches of Christ. The day they see it, they will also see the vanities of their current lifestyle. Pray for such ones around you.
Many would quickly blame the young rich ruler in our text and reading of the day. This is a man who I think has done more than the majority of us in keeping the law. He had done everything morally right, but would not let go of his wealth. This is because he could not see the invisible riches of Christ.
What is there in your life that you feel you can’t let go of? What do you consider so great in your life that you feel you can not forsake in order to possess all of Christ? Could it be your family status, wealth, influence, and other material possession of this world, ponder for a moment on God’s assessment to this man:
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
Luke 12:20 NLT
Until we truly understand what Jesus meant by going to prepare a mansion for us in heaven, we will not be serious about our Christian faith. Those who see a glimpse of this glory will do anything and will not allow anything or anyone to hinder them from possessing Christ.
What Jesus is offering us is bigger than the world itself – it is eternal life. No suffering or persecution will be able to shift us once we come into this understanding.
REFLECTION
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
2 Timothy 1:12 NKJV
What is your persuasion? What value do you place on eternity? Until you can say with full assurance that God can keep everything you commit into His hands, then you need to re-access your Christian faith.
PRAYER
Father, Please help me to have an eternal perspective on every decision I make from today.
