Often when one thinks about investing in heavenly treasures, we have this concept of palaces and streets of gold in Heaven for us to enjoy for all eternity. As wonderful as all that sounds, does Jesus really refer to streets of gold as our heavenly treasures, or was He talking about something else?
In Matthew 6:19–20, Jesus tells us, "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" (ESV). Obviously, Jesus was giving a sermon on money.
Left to our own selfish hearts, our default will be to chase after wealth and possessions. And as hard as this may be to accept, our notions of streets of gold and palaces in Heaven seem to enforce that. It's always about what material possessions we can get, either here or in the next life, but I believe God wants to teach us to start valuing other treasures aside from money and possessions. Here are three heavenly treasures we can start building up here on earth today.
Heart. Matthew 6:21 says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (ESV). I believe Jesus wants us to realise that it's not so much what your treasure is but the quality of your heart. We should get a hint: God wants us to value and nurture the heart because it's more valuable than money.
How's your heart today? If it's not in a good position, that's what God wants you to focus on: selfishness, hurt or hunger that needs to be answered by Christ's satisfaction. And here's something to swallow: Our heart will always be in need so we have all the time in the world to invest in it.
People. What's one thing we know for sure Heaven will be full of? I'm one hundred percent certain that Heaven will be full of people. That's what we want, don't we? We evangelise and spread the gospel because, just like Jesus, we want as many people in Heaven as possible.
The relationships with believers we have today will be something that we will have for the rest of eternity, so it's time we started investing in them; we're going to be together for a long, long time, friends.
God's Presence. Even in greater abundance than people, Heaven will surely be overflowing and teeming with the presence of God. As early as now, we can start getting small bits of it and growing in our reaction to it. As we worship God and experience His presence, we start knowing this wonderful Jesus whom we will spend the rest of eternity with.
Growing in God's presence is not just a must, it's a privilege. We are going to have this treasure forever, so why not start investing in it today?
