This is the final lesson in our series in which we have been discussing what the Bible describes as wise investments. They are things of great value – not valuable from a material standpoint, but valuable because they pertain to that which is spiritual and eternal. In this last lesson, we will consider what ought to be the goal of all of our efforts – a home in heaven.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
Where Will We Choose to Have Our Home?
When Jesus told his audience not to store up treasures on earth but rather to store up treasures in heaven, He implied that they were free to choose one option or the other. We can choose to go to heaven. No one can stop us if we wish to go. Contrary to what the adherents of Calvinism believe, heaven is not just for an arbitrarily chosen few. Paul said, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men” (Titus 2:11). This does not mean that all will be saved (Matthew 7:13-14). Instead, it means that all who meet God’s conditions of grace will be saved – belief (John 8:24; Hebrews 11:6), repentance (Luke 13:3, 5; 2 Peter 3:9), confession (Romans 10:9-10), baptism (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21), and a life of faithfulness (Revelation 2:10). This is why Jesus told His apostles, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). This message of hope through faithful obedience to the gospel of Christ was not for a select few; it was – and still is – for all.
Will we choose to go to heaven? Will we meet the conditions of God’s grace? Will we “store up…treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20)? God does not force us to obey Him so that we will go to heaven. Instead, He persuades us through the preaching of His word (2 Corinthians 5:11). If we are going to make a wise decision about whether to make heaven our home or not, we must weigh the options.
The Treasures of Heaven
What is there about heaven that should cause us to want to go? Notice what the Bible says about heaven:
- We will be in the presence of God – “There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads” (Revelation 22:3-4). Why is this special? It is because “God is love” (1 John 4:8). He loved us enough to offer His Son for us (John 3:16). Because of His great goodness toward us, we cannot help but want to be in His presence.
- We will have rest – “So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9-10). However, this rest does not come in this life but after this life. John was told, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord…so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them” (Revelation 14:13).
- We will have no troubles or trials – In recording the description he received of heaven, John wrote, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). Everything that causes sorrow on earth will be absent in heaven.
- We will enjoy eternal life – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23; cf. 1 John 5:11). Our lives on earth are “just a vapor that [appear] for a little while and then [vanish] away” (James 4:14). Our lives in heaven will never end.
Compare these things about heaven with the alternative – hell:
- We will be away from the presence of God – Of the unfaithful, Paul said, “These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Since God is the source of light (1 John 1:5; Revelation 21:23), the place away from His presence is a place of “outer darkness” (Matthew 25:30).
- We will have no rest – “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:11).
- We will endure pain and anguish – While heaven is described as a place that does not have any of the sorrows of life, hell will be a place that will be far worse than anything in this life. Jesus said, “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30).
- We will suffer eternal torment – The punishment of hell is not temporary, nor is it a quick annihilation as some believe. Instead, it will be equal to heaven in its duration. Jesus said, “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46). Those who are lost will suffer “the punishment of eternal fire” (Jude 7), and “the smoke of their torment [will go] up forever and ever” (Revelation 14:11).
After making this comparison between heaven and hell, the wise choice should be obvious. We must choose heaven as our home!
This World is Not Our Home
In the previous point, we contrasted heaven and hell. Yet in our text, Jesus contrasted “treasures in heaven” with “treasures on earth” (Matthew 6:19-21). Why does Jesus make this comparison? It is because this is the comparison that the devil will make. No one in his right mind will choose hell over heaven. But some will choose the here and now over the hereafter. The prosperous land owner of Jesus’ parable did this. He said, “I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry’” (Luke 12:18-19). His problem was not in his prosperity, but that he neglected the state of his soul so he could focus on the things of this life.
When the rich young ruler came to Jesus, he asked, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16). His question was a good one. Jesus told him, “Go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Matthew 19:21). Yet this man was unwilling to do this: “But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property” (Matthew 19:22). He was unwilling to part with the treasures of earth he valued so highly in order to gain the treasures of heaven that were far more valuable.
We need to remember that we are “aliens and strangers” in this world (1 Peter 2:11) and that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Whatever we may gain in this life is only temporary, as it is part of the world which is “passing away” (1 John 2:17) and will in the end “be destroyed with intense heat” (2 Peter 3:10). No treasure on earth can compare with the treasure stored up in heaven for the faithful.
What is Important to Us?
Are we pursing spiritual and eternal things, or material and temporal things? This is really the main question in all of the lessons in this series.
- Are we seeking to save our souls, or are we striving to better our lives here at all costs (Matthew 16:26)?
- Are we diligently pursuing the truth, or are we choosing to accept the way that seems right to man (Proverbs 23:23; 14:12)?
- Are we seeking the kingdom of God, or are we content with the churches of men (Matthew 13:45-46)?
- Are we striving to obtain the great gain of godliness, or are we hoping for this world’s wealth as our reward (1 Timothy 6:5-6)?
- Are we trying to have a real spirituality, or do we have a counterfeit and “lukewarm” spirituality (Revelation 3:15-18)?
- Are we allowing our faith to be proven, or are we compromising our faith when it is convenient to do so (1 Peter 1:6-7)?
- Are we laying up treasures in heaven, or are we focused too much on the treasures of earth (Matthew 6:19-21)?
We need to have the right perspective and be willing to make the proper sacrifices in order to gain those things which are worth obtaining.
Conclusion
We must be convinced that those things we have discussed in this series are more important than the things of this world. In order to do this, we must “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). The things we should value most highly are not material and temporal, but rather are spiritual and eternal. Remember the words of the Hebrew writer:
“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
If we seek God in faith, we will be rewarded when the Lord returns (Revelation 22:12). Let us not lose sight of what is truly important, so that we might reap the benefits of these wise investments.
