The Lens of Eternity

(1 Timothy 6:17-19) Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 

In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Heaven, not earth, is my home.  

(Philippians 3:18-20) Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. 

Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Life on Earth is finite.  

Heaven is infinite.

(Hebrews 11:14-16 MSG) People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home... 

They were after a far better country than that—heaven country. 

You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.

There’s limited time on earth, 

but an incredible opportunity for heaven.

(Ephesians 5:15-16) Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

It’s smart to chose to go to heaven.

Romans 10:13 (NKJV) For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

(Matthew 6:19-21 NLT) “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 

Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Everyone has a limited amount of time, and  everyone has the same opportunity of going to heaven.    

We can choose to retain all our things upon earth which will decay, or we can send them on ahead of us to heaven.

To whom much is given. Much is required. 

Self indulgence at this time is only helping the enemy, and robbing us of investing our treasures in heaven.

Be Rich toward God

(Luke 12:16-21) And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 

And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”

 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. 

Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

1.  Give yourself first to God.

If you first give yourself to God, all other giving is easy.

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20) You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

2. Act like a manager of God's belongings, not like an owner of them.

(Psalm 24:1) The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.

3. View everything through the

 lens of eternity.

(Hebrews 11:25-26) Moses chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 

He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

4. Pre-decide what you should do with your time and money.

(2 Corinthians 9:7 MSG) I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. 

That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.

I will never miss what I invest in eternity.

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands

Video

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/treasures-in-heaven2

Discussion Guide

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/files/groups/guides/10-23-2016.pdf

All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.