#lay up

Eternity Minded

“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law. I am a stranger and a temporary resident on the earth; hide not Your commandments from me.” Psalm 119:18-19AMPC

My parents were an active part of the early 1900’s. Hence I learned through songs about heaven, a subject no longer taught much in churches. Heaven was frequently on their minds through songs like— Albert Brumley’s song— “This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue; The angels beckon me from heaven's open door, And “I Can't Feel At Home In This World Anymore.”

Or— “I Gotta Home In Gloryland’ that outshines the sun,… Do Lord, oh do Lord, oh do remember me,”

Even— Ira Stanphill’s —  ‘I'm satisfied with just a cottage below A little silver and a little gold But in that city where the ransomed will shine I want a gold one that's silver lined … I've got a ‘Mansion Just Over The Hilltop’ In that bright land where we'll never grow old.’

Jacob knew His home was temporary, see Genesis 47:9. The King David prayed in 1Chronicles 29:15NIV “We are foreigners and strangers in Your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.”

Hebrews writer explained this in Hebrews 11:13NIV “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.” Is all that is coming to us here on earth?

Questions came to me as I was reading the text scripture this morning— Why am I so concerned about my house and my finances with an earthly focus, rather than being eternity minded? At the most I’ve got fifteen more years to live here on earth, if I live as long as my parents. I, and everyone reading this, have no guarantee that we’ll be alive tomorrow. Any number of things could take us into the next life, momentarily. Having the latest, greatest car, gadget, or home won’t count for anything at that moment. As the saying goes— ‘no one’s ever seen a hearse pulling a person’s prized possessions behind it to the gravesite.’ Or like the young widow of a wealthy old man who promised to leave all his money in his casket with him, left a check instead.

Another question— Where are my treasures being stored up? Jesus said— “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 6:21ESV.

Last question: How can I lay up treasures in Heaven? Your church’s building fund, missionary outreaches, supporting orphanages, foster-parenting, giving time and finances in disaster relief, feeding and helping the homeless population are a few ways of laying up treasures in heaven.

Being greedy is another option, but it doesn’t support any good outcome. Are you sure you want to go that route? It’s your choice. You choose.

LET’S PRAY: Almighty God this life on earth is meaningless without You as the center. Please help us to become more eternity minded instead of earthly focused in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.