See the Eternal Things.

Obviously earthly treasures are not to be desired, though because we live in a Satan ruled world filled with his evil we are inclined towards earthly treasures. We are inclined to believe we are successful when we have earthly treasures, the more the better. We are inclined to believe we are successful when we can give others earthly treasures. We are inclined to label ourselves and others a success when we can enjoy the supposed good things life has to offer. Our bent is towards earthly treasures and it starts at a very young age.

2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 

Our eternal treasure- one that can never degrade in any way, one that can never be stolen is the heavenly treasure of eternal life given to us by Jesus Christ.

We cannot manufacture this treasure. We cannot dig deep into the earth and uncover this priceless gift. We, in and of ourselves cannot produce even the tiniest bit of this eternal, and very precious treasure no matter what we try to do.

This treasure must be given to us by another, and not just any other, but our God- Jesus Christ.

We ourselves are made of the earth. Our very flesh and bones are simply broken down into dust.  We are earthen vessels, and have no power of our own- the power lies with God.

All the treasures in the entire world would be easily given up and rejected if we only comprehended in full the eternal treasure awaiting us.

Read the following and please, pray for full comprehension. We are NOT as Christ followers, going to have an easy temporal life- it just isn't promised to us at all.  When our hope is in the eternal treasure there is not a single thing that take that from us, not a single trouble that exists for us, not one bit of distress or perplexity, because we cannot despair if we have the eternal hope.

2Co 4:8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 

2Co 4:9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 

2Co 4:10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 

2Co 4:11  For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 

2Co 4:12  So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 

2Co 4:13  We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 

2Co 4:14  Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 

2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

We need to spiritually see the eternal things, all by the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Treasures of Earth, Treasures of Heaven.

When I was a child the anticipation of Christmas was palpable. Everything changed right after Thanksgiving. Decorations came out of the closets that had been stored away for ten and a half months and things just seemed a bit more exciting than they had even the day before.

Christmas was coming! To me Christmas meant the Sears Wish Book Catalog. Does that sound sad? It probably does, it should.

Yes, I grew up learning all the standard Christmas songs which included 'Away In the Manger', 'Silent Night', 'O Come All Ye Faithful', 'Little Drummer Boy.'  These songs told the tale of a baby, a very special baby who was born on Christmas Day. However, I also grew up with songs such as 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town', 'Jingle Bells', 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,' and so on and so forth. Being a child, and I think perhaps a typical child, I focused on the Santa Claus is coming to town bit and the idea of getting presents, lots of presents even if lots meant five or six, that was a lot, plus there was that stocking stuffed with candy and toys as well. We anticipated that toy catalog and we were allowed to pick out anything and everything we wanted knowing all the while we weren't likely to get most of the things, but even if we would get just one thing we were happy.

Christmas and getting gifts, Christmas and all the fancy eating! The cookies, the candy, the pies, coffee cakes, yes, this was what made Christmas special to me.  Christmas and visiting relatives for more candy, food, and favorite sodas. My lack of focus on the birth of Christ wasn't my parents fault, they took us to church, they told us the importance of gift giving, not just receiving, but my personal penchant towards selfishness kept me more self-absorbed than self-less. My treasures were not in heaven, they were wrapped in pretty paper and tied with fancy bows under the Christmas tree.

Gift getting, treasure accumulation this was all a part of my life and my happiness. I'm not proud of it at all, but it's the truth.  Putting my treasures in heaven didn't come easy and truthfully it is something I think about even to this day.

I sit here in my living room surrounded by my Christmas treasures- mostly lots of snowmen that I've collected throughout the years, but many other things as well and I know I'd be very sad to lose any of it. I have two china cabinets and only one holds china, the other is my curio cabinet with more treasures I possess. Again, treasures I wouldn't want to lose. I like to think if I lost all my earthly treasures I'd be fine, and maybe I would be, I hope I would be, by the grace of God I would be.

I'm blessed beyond measure in the earthly treasure department, but I have to wonder how my heavenly treasure storehouse fares. Treasures such as wisdom and understanding- they are heavenly treasures that are distributed to us to use on earth.

Col 2:2  That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 

Col 2:3  In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in the mystery of God, the Father and Christ.

Treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Today I would circle these treasures were they offered in a catalog, but not as a child and not as an adult for many years. Treasures of the heavenly, treasure greater than precious gems.

Pro 16:16  How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! 

Imagine… wisdom better than gold! Understanding better than silver!

It truly makes sense when we are told this…

Mat 6:19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 

Mat 6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 

Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

The only treasures that cannot be taken from us, or destroyed in some manner are heavenly treasures! Think about it for a moment. All our earthly treasures are subject to being stolen. All our earthly treasures can be destroyed, few treasures survive a fire as most people who live through house fires will tell you.  If we make people our treasures they too can be taken from us, but our faith in our heavenly Father allows us to comprehend that one day we may see our loved ones again - the great resurrection day when Christ returns for us and the dead in Christ are raised to meet Him in the air- we too will raise to meet the Lord in the air in that day and we will see all those we loved who died in the love of Christ. Losing the treasure of loved ones is a temporary loss because we place their safe keeping with our Heavenly Father.  They become a treasure  kept safe in the heavenly promise of a future resurrection.

Listen to these words of admonition-

Jas 5:1  Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 

Jas 5:2  Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 

Jas 5:3  Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. 

Obviously earthly treasures are not to be desired, though because we live in a Satan ruled world filled with his evil we are inclined towards earthly treasures. We are inclined to believe we are successful when we have earthly treasures, the more the better. We are inclined to believe we are successful when we can give others earthly treasures. We are inclined to label ourselves and others a success when we can enjoy the supposed good things life has to offer. Our bent is towards earthly treasures and it starts at a very young age.

More on all of this tomorrow by the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

May we learn more of the heavenly treasure especially at a time we are inclined to want to receive and even give earthly treasures.

Treasure.

Treasures.

Col 2:2  That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 

Col 2:3  In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

Mat 6:19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 

Mat 6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 

Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

Jas 5:1  Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 

Jas 5:2  Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 

Jas 5:3  Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. 

2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 

2Co 4:8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 

2Co 4:9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 

2Co 4:10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 

2Co 4:11  For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 

2Co 4:12  So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 

2Co 4:13  We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 

2Co 4:14  Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 

2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

Luk_18:22  Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Luk_12:33  Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Luk_12:34  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Luk 12:13  And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 

Luk 12:14  And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 

Luk 12:15  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 

Luk 12:16  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 

Luk 12:17  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 

Luk 12:18  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 

Luk 12:19  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 

Luk 12:20  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 

Luk 12:21  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. 

Luk 6:45  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. 

Mat_19:21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Mar_10:21  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Mat 13:51  Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 

Mat 13:52  Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Mat_13:44  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Mat_6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Jesus, Our Ladder

Gen 28:17  And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 

Jacob was in fear, in complete awe, overwhelmed with the reality of the majesty of the place where He was.  The House of God- the Gate of Heaven. His spiritual eyes were opened, he was allowed to see beyond the temporal realm, the tangible existence. The vision given to him left him in complete and utter astonishment, shock flowed through him, he'd been gifted with insight into Heaven and the house of God.

A ladder.

Jacob dreamed but it wasn't an ordinary dream at all. This dream was based in reality.

Gen 28:12  And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 

Gen 28:13  And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 

Gen 28:14  And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 

Gen 28:15  And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 

Gen 28:16  And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 

From heaven the LORD called to Jacob and renewed the same promise He gave to Abraham and Isaac. The LORD told Jacob He was with him.

The LORD was in this place Jacob said, and he didn't even know it.

How often is the LORD with us and we aren't fully comprehending of that fact? Can we push the LORD away from us? Yes. Can we park GOD at the door to our personal dens of iniquity carefully setting Him aside and hiding Him behind a closed and locked, often times barred door? Yes. On the other hand, we can cry out in the depths of despair at our own sinfulness and the LORD will answer. The supernatural super hero able to break through any and all things that would try and stand between Him and a truly repentant sinner.

Jacob was a supplanter, a deceiver… He obeyed the voice of his mother who instructed him to take the blessing of a dying Isaac who favored the oldest son over the younger. Jacob could have said no to his mother's scheming plan to steal away Esau's blessing. He didn't say no, he didn't gently remind his mother that deception was not a good thing, stealing was not a good thing, that they needed to repent of her plan. The wheels were in motion and Jacob did all that his mother instructed in order to fool the semi-senile, surely all but completely blind, Isaac. The truth that Isaac hadn't aged gracefully- keeping his senses clear to the end of his life- but was caught up in the intense deterioration that can occur in extreme old age was a fact. That he could be fooled by fur placed on arms and the scent of clothes was understandable. Jacob had to be all but trembling in fear of being caught as he wore the furry arm bands and brought the stew to his father. Yes, Jacob was caught up in deception to obtain something that didn't belong to him.

After completing the deception he was told to leave, his brother's anger against him was so great that the fear of his being murdered was very real. Told to leave the only home he'd ever known, thrust out on the heels of his deception, Jacob was being sent off to a new life one without his mother as his defender, or his father, or most gratefully at this point, his brother.

On his way to his uncle's, Jacob fell asleep that first night with stones for pillows and he dreamed the dream already discussed.

Running away after stealing what belonged to his brother, Jacob was given a dream and the blessing of Isaac was shown to be very real, even placed upon a deceiver.

The LORD was with Jacob. Jacob witnessed the truth of a ladder, a way from one realm to another. Jacob saw the way made for heaven and earth to unite and what a blessing it was for him to know that God allowed that way to be made for mankind.  The occupants of heaven- angels- would descend and ascend on that ladder, going to the aid of those in need where God sent them.

Jesus is that way, Jesus is the ladder, without Him and the sacrifice He was going to make, there wouldn't have existed a ladder in a dream for Jacob. Heaven and earth are united through the Savior. This is truth. There is but ONE ladder and that is Christ.

Joh 1:51  And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. 

Let us see heaven open and know that Jesus has made the way possible for us to receive the heavenly blessing, the hope that in all He will be with us. The angels of God will help us in our need, sustaining us in Christ through all things. There is hope. Heaven is our hope, heaven is what our Lord took on flesh and dwelt among us, suffering and dying so we could have that hope of being united with Him in all His glory! Our treasures surely are in heaven, let us keep them there, let us know they await us - salvation through the LORD JESUS CHRIST NOW AND FOREVER!!!!!!! 

Amen.

Heaven and Earth United Through Christ Jesus

Gen 28:12  And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 

Gen 28:13  And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 

Gen 28:14  And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 

Gen 28:15  And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 

Gen 28:16  And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 

Gen 28:17  And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 

A ladder set up on the earth, the top of the ladder reached to heaven. On the ladder angels of God went up and down between earth and heaven.

Joh 1:51  And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. 

The Ladder-Jesus Christ our Lord.

A ladder enables a person to get to a place they otherwise would not be able to get to, right? The only reason we use a ladder is because without one we couldn't get to where we need to be. The other day I went up and down a ladder in my house as I hung up Christmas cards in strings upon my walls. I had to climb the ladder so I could reach the hook to place the string of cards. Without that ladder I never would have been able to reach the hook, it would be impossible. I could think about it all day long and still would never be able to do what I needed to do without a ladder.

It's safe to assume the majority of people have used  a ladder a time or two during their lives. Some people use them every single day as their job or living arrangements dictate. Ladders are extremely useful and most buildings in existence would not be built without a ladder. When a young child climbs their first ladder a parent is usually right there behind them, even if the ladder is just a step or two leading to a toddler slide.

Ladders need to be sturdy in order to work as they should. A ladder needs to be dependable or else we risk falling and injury. Often people will have other people hold a ladder to give it extra stability as they climb.

Ladders can be frightening as well because even the most secure ladder in the world will not keep our feet from slipping. Some people have hooks on a belt around their waist they use to alternately hook themselves into the rungs of the ladder as they climb so should their foot slip, or hand miss its mark throwing them off balance they won't fall to the ground below which could be hundreds of feet on some towers and such.

The fact there exists a spiritual ladder one that reaches to heaven where God resides and to earth below is truly an amazing analogy. That we read in the New testament that the ladder is none other than the Lord, Jesus Christ is amazing.  Jesus bridges the gap between what is otherwise impossible to reach. There is no other way to reach heaven than through Jesus Christ.

Joh 1:51  And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. 

Jesus touches the earth and anchors there, stretching all the way to God in heaven above. Angels of God through Jesus - first through the hope of the promise of Jesus to bridge the gap, secondly through the reality of Jesus' death and resurrection when the gap was fixed permanently- Jesus has been the way to God, to bridge the great gulf that exists between man and God. Angels help mankind at God's command, ministering to us as needed towards our eternal life.

Gen 28:17  And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 

Jacob was in fear, in complete awe, overwhelmed with the reality of the majesty of the place where He was.  The House of God- the Gate of Heaven. His spiritual eyes were opened, he was allowed to see beyond the temporal realm, the tangible existence. The vision given to him left him in complete and utter astonishment, shock flowed through him, he'd been gifted with insight into Heaven and the house of God.

More on all this tomorrow by the grace and will of God! All through HIS LOVE!

I Yield.

Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 

What sort of world would this look like if everyone followed the advice from that verse?  NOTHING being done through STRIFE, NOTHING being done through VAINGLORY. EVERYTHING being done with lowliness of mind, humble, EVERYONE esteeming EVERYONE ELSE better than themselves.

I'm not talking with that bitterness and grudging admittance that someone is better than you while you secretly want to be the one who is better. I'm talking a true, humble, loving comprehension that loving others and considering their worth so valuable that no matter the circumstance they are worth more than you, and worth sacrificing yourself for, that's the kind of esteeming others better than ourselves I'm talking about.

Isn't that what CHRIST JESUS did?

The worth of Christ is so far beyond full comprehension yet He did NOT consider Himself before He considered others. If anyone had a right to consider themselves better than another it would have been Jesus. Yet He spent His ministry here on earth humble, lowly of mind, putting on no airs whatsoever, hobnobbing with the rough rabble and least esteemed in the eyes of others. He did not seek any fame or fortune. He had a tremendous following of over five thousand people (remember this was a much different time no twitter, instagram, facebook, or social media of any kind - uhm, no electricity). He had this huge following and most of them left Him when He revealed that He wasn't there to be made their earthly king, that He wasn't going to raise up an army to fight against the Romans ruling over them. He did not want earthly fame at all!

Jesus wanted people to recognize that hope is found in the truth of the love of God. He wanted people to know that THIS EARTH, THIS LIFE they were now living was NOT all there was to life. Jesus came to tell people of the eternal life that could be theirs once they made it through this temporary life.  Jesus did not tell them it was automatically theirs. That every single human being would make it to the eternal life offered. Remember Jesus said this --

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

Jesus came preaching the good news of eternal life, the kingdom of heaven, but He outright told people that not everyone who would say to Him that they followed Him and did things in His name would enter into heaven. Jesus is going to tell these people that He never knew them, to get away from Him because they truly work in sin. These people THINK they are His, but they are not.  How many of these self-deceived people along with the blatant haters of Jesus Christ, will not make it into Heaven?

Mat 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 

Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 

FEW will find it.

Mat_24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Deceive everyone… but the very elect.

Mat 19:16  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 

Mat 19:17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 

Mat 19:18  He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 

Mat 19:19  Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

Mat 19:20  The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 

Mat 19:21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 

Mat 19:22  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 

Mat 19:23  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat 19:24  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 

Mat 19:25  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 

Mat 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 

Mat 19:27  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 

Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

Mat 19:29  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 

Mat 19:30  But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. 

This kind of brings it right to the point doesn't it?

What priority does God place in our life? Where does Jesus fit into our lives?

We can't imagine forsaking much of anything in our life because we've spent a lifetime accumulating things. We have put so much before Jesus in our lives. I sit surrounded by my earthly treasures, in particular right at this moment I am literally surrounded by most of my Christmas treasures that I store away each year only to bring out the next. Gold (not real but in color), silver, bright and glittering treasures sparkling all around me I can see the sunlight shining on my walls covered in shiny cards and ribbon. Can I imagine forsaking all of this.

Right about now you're saying HOLD UP, STOP, you're not REALLY thinking we need to forsake all that stuff- our family too, are you?

I guess not. But I am asking you as well as myself, to CONSIDER exactly what has the highest priority in our lives. If we were ASKED to leave is all for Christ, would we?  Or are we among the people who tell ourselves that Christ would never ask us to do such a thing, not really, He understands that we can't leave our families and such.

Jesus does NOT want us to leave all and follow Him in the exact same way He told that rich young man. Jesus does want us to follow His teaching first in our lives and that means what?  ESTEEMING ALL OTHERS BEFORE OURSELVES.  If in that esteeming we are called out to a ministry of serving that calls for us to sacrifice earthly ties - then we must do that. Where does God rate in your life? What priority does He have?  If I told you that God wanted you to give 100 dollars to the next homeless person you see, you wouldn't believe me first of all- but even if you had an inkling that maybe God did want you to do that, could you? How near and dear is that 100 dollars to your heart, to your sense of well-being, to your comfort and thought of surviving by supplying your own needs by paying your bills with that money, or buying food and necessities with that money?

This is truth-

Mat_16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mar_8:36  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Luk_9:25  For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 

Mat 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 

Mat 16:27  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 

Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 

Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 

Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 

Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 

Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 

Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

God first.

Others second.

Ourselves last.

All through the power of the Holy Spirit.

All through the hope of Jesus Christ.

All through our Heavenly Father's will, and His good pleasure.

I yield. I surrender all.

Eternal Prize.

Jas 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Crown of life… the Lord has promised. This crown of life is truly what we long for isn't it? The knowledge that makes this crazy world of ours and our very existence comprehensible, is the hope we have. The hope given to us by God, that one day all the crazy will be over. Every single bit of crazy will stop. From the smallest irritation, to the greatest horror imaginable- it will all cease to exist. The crown of life promised to those who love the Lord symbolizes the end of all sin and it's results- death.  Without sin there would have been no such thing as us dying. Every day we live is- as some have sung about- one step closer to death. None of us knows when we might die, not a single person knows this not even if they plan their own death- many who have planned their death have failed in the attempt and continue to live. Even when a person may appear to be on death's door, sometimes they pull through to live on longer. Not sick, not injured, not suffering from any life threatening ailment- we just don't know when death will happen to us, but we do know that we are one day closer to our death, yes? Being promised a crown of life is huge!

A crown of living without any death at all. With the crown of life we know that we- through our Savior- will one day live in a world free of death. There will be no sin, and therefore no penalty for sin- no death. We will never again be separated from God.

A crown of existence, permanent existence.

When Jesus took on flesh, setting aside His existence in pure spirit as God with God in heaven, He did so with the expressed purpose of obtaining justly the promise of the crown of life for all who believe in Him, fully and wholly believe in Him.

The crown of life- the kingdom of God- this is why Jesus came to live and die and live again- to GIVE this to us.

Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world

A kingdom prepared!

Luk 22:28  Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. 

Luk 22:29  And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; 

Luk 22:30  That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

Appointed a kingdom!

Rom 2:7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 

Rom 2:8  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 

Rom 2:9  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 

Rom 2:10  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile

Seek for glory, honor, immortality, ETERNAL LIFE!

1Co 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 

An incorruptible crown!

2Ti 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 

A crown of righteousness!

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ

More precious than gold!

1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 

Glad with exceeding joy!

1Pe 5:4  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 

Crown of glory!

Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 

A crown of life!

Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 

Sit in the throne of Christ, with Christ!

The eternal crown is there for all who believe in Christ and live as a Christ follower in all truth revealed through the Holy Spirit.

Endure and receive.

Too many endure life's many hardships waiting to receive some sort of earthly prize for having to endure life's horrors. Too many wait for earthly relief from all their awful circumstances- some dealt to them from birth shaping their lives into miserable pits of existence. Too many feel the injustices of our current lives as painful nightmares- and still they have s smidgen of hope their circumstances might change for the better. We need to place our hope in the Crown of Life promised to us through Jesus. We need to place our hope in the heavenly prize- no one can take that prize from us, not ever and the prize is very real, and it awaits us all should be choose to endure for the eternal prize.

All through the grace, love and mercy of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ now and forever!

Amen.