Friday: Further Thought ~ Laying Up Treasures in Heaven
Further Thought:
God honored His part of the covenant by blessing Abraham. And Abraham honored God by not storing up treasures on this earth. “The heritage that God has promised to His people is not in this world. Abraham had no possession in the earth, ‘no, not so much as to set his foot on.’ Acts 7:5.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
He possessed great substance, and he used it to the glory of God and the good of his fellow men; but he did not look upon this world as his home. The Lord had called him to leave his idolatrous countrymen, with the promise of the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession; yet neither he nor his son nor his son’s son received it. When Abraham desired a burial place for his dead, he had to buy it of the Canaanites. His sole possession in the Land of Promise was that rock-hewn tomb in the cave of Machpelah.” — Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 169.
As we live our lives, we are sometimes tempted to go toward wealth and leisure. It takes strong faith to practice delayed gratification. “The magnificent palace of Pharaoh and the monarch’s throne were held out as an inducement to Moses; but he knew that the sinful pleasures that make men forget God were in its lordly courts. He looked beyond the gorgeous palace, beyond a monarch’s crown, to the high honors that will be bestowed on the saints of the Most High in a kingdom untainted by sin. He saw by faith an imperishable crown that the King of heaven would place on the brow of the overcomer. This faith led him to turn away from the lordly ones of earth and join the humble, poor, despised nation that had chosen to obey God rather than to serve sin.” — Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 246.
Discussion Questions:
|
(8)
Christianity is not about going without presents now so that we get a really good present at Christmas time. We sometimes give that impression when we talk about salvation and our vision of heaven. The moment of revelation for me came through discussions with my atheist friends who live with no sense of future fulfillment, but who acted as though they were Christians. They did not abandon themselves to hedonistic pleasure. They were morally and ethically responsible because it was the right thing to do. They argued that we Christians behaved that way because we see a reward for moral behaviour. They asked the question: if you take away heaven and eternal life, do you have a compelling reason for being moral?
They make a fair point, and given that many of my atheistic friends have seen the worst of Christian exploitation and abuse, I understand their rejection of institutional Christianity and stand amazed that they have retained so much of what we call "Christian values".
This brings me to the patriarchs that we have been studying this week. Consider Abraham, and in particular, let's look at the summary of his theology in Hebrews 11:
While of course there are elements of future fulfilment, there is also a sense that the heavenly kingdom is much more. It extends back into the present and finds its fulfilment when we understand that finding that kingdom is something we can do now.
The kingdom parables in the Gospels make it quite plain that we can find the rich treasure of the kingdom now.
I started this week with a bit of a take on Steve Job's famous quote. Here is the full quote:
... and while Steve was talking about the paradigm shift that he had been involved with in information technology, maybe we can apply it to our Christianity. How is this for an application?
Being in heaven and having eternal life does not matter to me. Having a relationship with God that makes a wonderful difference to those around me. That's what matters to me!
Is that the city that Abraham looked forward to?
In light of what I have offered this week for consideration in my comments, it will hopefully come as no surprise that I whole-heartedly agree with the vitally important point that Maurice is making.
Consequently, my affirmation of Maurice's point and the necessity of taking it to heart - which involves intentional commitment to act upon that awareness via submission to and active co-operation with the restorative working of the Holy Spirit (as per Psalm 51:10; Philippians 2:12-13 principles) - is my contribution to today's discussion.
Hi, Maurice. I can certainly resonate with the clear intent of your comment. However, I have a slightly different take on the question.
My understanding is that God is the only source of love, that the unregenerate human heart is a cold, dark, selfish place. It appears that God has considered the sincere misunderstandings of your atheist friends, and the Holy Spirit is at work in them despite their failure to acknowledge the supremacy of Jesus. Alternatively, their outward morality is misleading as to their true condition. It would tend to fool sinners into thinking that they don't really need Jesus in order to be righteous. See Psalm 53.
Does being in heaven and having eternal life matter to me? Absolutely! I like to think that the Holy Spirit has given me a life and understanding that would motivate me to better behaviour just for the good of others and the honour of God. But to say that I don't care about going to heaven would imply that I am not particularly interested in any future association with my loved ones who are now sleeping in their graves, and that I despise the gift of eternal life that has come to me at infinite cost. Ultimately, heaven and eternal life are a personal matter for me. They are all about Jesus, and I want to see Him face to face.
There are two things to consider:
1) I don't think that all atheists have a moral compass. Many of them use their atheism as an excuse to ignore any form of ethical consideration and some are driven simply by hedonism. I believe the ones that have a moral compass are responding to the Holy Spirit but because of their previous negative experience with Christianity are never going to "feel a need for Jesus". I call these folk anonymous Christians
2) Here is the example of Moses.
I pray that is what matters to me too.
Amen to this, R.G. White. In the beginning God gave Adam and Eve a lease on life including "Eternal Life." They failed at staying connected with the "Life Giver," so then God sends a "God Man" His own Son Jesus to give Humanity another chance at becoming connected with Him and His Father via "The Holy Spirit" to accept this "Lease on Eternal Life," again via His Plan of Redemption. And yes there will be those in God's Eternal Kingdom that will end up saying then, "What are these wounds in your hands?" Because they responded to God's Holy Spirit to do "Righteousness" in behalf of others etc. and etc. but did not themselves come in and join the "Christians" because of the "Christians" (Hypocritical way of living,) as so called "Christians,"
Perhaps you are right, Pete, but I would not encourage anyone to refrain from professing Christ over the attitudes or behaviour of others who do claim to be Christians. Salvation is a two-party transaction. We are saved as individuals.
Amen again, R.G. White. However, in the parable of the "Sheep and Goats," neither those whom God tells "Well done" nor the ones that He tells to "Depart from me ye cursed..." seem to know when they saw Jesus in those they blessed or did not bless -- the hungry, naked, or needy -- and Jesus tells them then that it was when they refused to bless the needy, hungry, or chose to not bless them, that they either rejected Him or accepted Him. It had nothing to do with claiming to choose Jesus or not at all, but just simply what they chose to do with those that needed their help with food, clothes, or shelter etc. and etc.
My take-away is that it is okay to want heaven and eternal life, but if that is our only reason for living a moral existence, we are the "so-called Christians." We have to want Jesus more. There is a song that says, " If heaven were never promised to me... or the promise to live eternally, it is worth having the Lord in my life. Living in a world of darkness, He brought me the light." Jesus, only Jesus.
God gave Adam and Eve Life and they had nothing to do with choosing it at all. It was and still is "A Gift" from God. Jesus also is "A Gift," from God too. Nothing we can do or not do makes any difference to God in giving us His Son. Jesus is God's Lamb Slain from the foundation of this earth. Biological life is a gift from God. But Spiritual life, even though that is also a gift from God, we need to choose it "By Faith," and live according to God's requirements to maintain it here in His Son Jesus and via The Holy Spirit and also His Word "The Bible," and all of His Promises that are written there for us.
We are living in a materialistic world, where vision, touch, finances seem to rule, where all things receive a price. When I am focused on what I can buy, I get frustrated very often. The sense of origin, purpose and direction is fundamental to keep me on track. May I be aware of the spiritual things surrounding my daily duties, and my focus on what doesn't rot, because this life will end, but not eternity!
I think learning the meaning of ‘laying up treasures in heaven’ is one of the most important truths a Christian wants to learn in order to live life rightly. Is it possible for those who do not know the 'teacher' Jesus personally, rejecting the institutionalized version of Christianity, to also live a life which is acceptable in God’s eyes? – Rom.2:14-29.
I want to encourage all to, please, read the full account of Paul's admonishment of those who thought themselves privileged because of their calling by God based on the Law, because these verses show that some Gentiles were already living in ways which expressed some of the teachings of Christ without Him having introduced this to them personally.
What is at work then which makes it possible for one to live rightly? I find that, in some important aspects, institutionalized Christianity has done a great disservice to the image of our Creator, His Son, the Gospel which introduces mankind to the right way of living with each other, and those who identify with these 'institutions' in order to give themselves the designation of a 'Christian'.
Jesus admonished the apostles to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit before going out to preach the Gospel to all the world. He knew that without Him, they would not be able to preach, teach, and explain His Truth - letting all who had an open ear and heart to understand that this selfsame Spirit of Truth is also available to all who want to ‘present themselves to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of Truth.’ – 1 Tim.2:15; John 16:13.
How do we lay up treasures in heaven? Through living our lives empowerd by this self-same Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of holiness – Rom.1:4, the Spirit of Life – Rom.89:2, the Spirit of Grace – Heb. 10:29, and the Spirit of Glory, God's Glory – 1Peter 4:14. As we follow the Holy Spirit, “we lay up for ourselves 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” – Matt.6:19-21.
Before Abraham, there were no Jews. Abraham himself was not a Jew but a Gentile. The "Law" was written in Abraham's heart the same way that the "Law" is written in all humans, Jews or Gentiles or Christians. It is because of "choice" that Adam and Eve lost their innocence and ended up with a "Sinful Nature," to pass on to us humans. But even with our sinful natures, God's Law via His Holy Spirit works in our minds to show us our need of "The Sinless Righteousness of Jesus," which is The Law Personified for us in His Son. Doing by nature the things contained in "The Law," is like when a non Christian or a non Jew chooses to not kill, or steal, or not commit adultery, etc. and etc. and to the best of his or her ability stays in line with these principles of righteousness.
Thank you for the comment, Pete – Please allow me to clarify. I also believe that the Spirit has manifested Himself throughout time and think that the ‘law of how to live rightly’ was given to the hearts of all humanity and present from the beginning.
I believe, though, that it required ‘a new spirit and a new heart in order to follow God’s statutes and to observe His ordinances' – Ezekiel 36:26-27. To establish this was the work of the Holy Spirit, but for the time being they followed God's "Law" written on tablets and paper. A few were reached by the Spirit, but most remained guided by the Law.
As you know, Scripture tells about God knowing the ones He calls for special work and can do so even before they are born – Jer. 1:5; Numbers 27:18; Judges 3:10. I consider ‘being known by’ and already ‘knowing the ‘right God’ while in the womb to be a special gift/blessing/call by the Holy Spirit. Noah, Abraham, Moses, Prophets, Kings, and many others have been ‘set apart’ by Him in such a manner.
As I understand Scripture, before the Holy Spirit came to bless all mankind and open their eyes to know Jesus to be the Son of the 'right' God, they needed to wait until He returned to the Father. During His ministry, Jesus admonished all who heard Him to believe in Him – John 7:37-39, but it was not until the Day of Pentecost that the Spirit 'fell' directly and personally on all who believed – John 14:17.
Now that Jesus Christ is glorified, the Holy Spirit will indwell all who believe His teachings and are willing to be directed by Him to understand the truths of His Gospel. This He will continue doing until the end of times – John 16:13.
The commandment of dominion given to Adam,gives choices for by creation and being made in His image and likeness already implants His being and righteounes in everyone born of the flesh weather having received Jesus Christ or not the laws are implanted. That is why conversion from the world to follow Jesus is possible for the seed is already there. Take the case of Cain and Abel. Our own King David in confessing of his wrong deeds is another example of implementation.The same goes for Saul and who became Paul s new creation because of the implantation.
Indeed we are all born with His laws but the choice is ours, though at His will, He can it do it for us