Imagine you’re on a long journey and your backpack is so heavy you can barely move. Then someone tells you, if you drop this bag, I will give you a mansion at the end of the road. Most of us would gladly drop the backpack. I ask myself, what am I holding onto on this side of heaven? Yet living in the Spirit and walking with the Spirit, possessions, comfort and status, has slowed me down for years, looking back.
Matthew 19:16-30 ESV
16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”
They are asking Jesus about their good deeds, and Jesus replies, saying it’s not about your good works, there is only one that is good. Jesus says in the verse; if you would enter life. He is saying if you confess that He is Lord you will have eternal life. Romans 10:9 ESV 9. Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. John 14:6 ESV 6. Jesus said to him, I AM the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through ME.
Referring to the cross. Eternal life is a treasure in Heaven.
18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?”
Matthew 19:20 ESV shows a rich young man’s confident but ultimately incomplete understanding of true righteousness, as he declares he has kept all the commandments and then asks what he still lacks to gain eternal life. Jesus’s response in the following verses reveals that the man’s superficial adherence to the law was not enough, illustrating that eternal life cannot be earned through human effort but requires a deeper, selfless commitment to God, which the man was unwilling to make.
21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Jesus is saying, if you sell your possessions and follow Him, you will have more treasures in Heaven. At this point, you have given your heart to the Lord, first treasure, now you have sold all your possessions to follow Him, second treasure. Selling your possessions is a treasure in Heaven.
22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Matthew 19:28 ESV When Jesus said, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Sitting on twelve thrones is a treasure in Heaven.
Did I earn any of this through any of my good works? No, I obeyed my calling to be sent to the República Dominicana. I put Him first and myself second. Don’t get me wrong, this hasn’t been easy, but I wouldn’t change a thing. All by myself from the time I wake up, until the time I lay my head back down. I haven’t fully learned the language, the culture, what store to go to buy what I need for that day. Sitting in a restaurant all by myself, not knowing what the menu says or how to call someone over to my table to ask a question. The Google translating app has been very helpful. But I think to myself, did Job have any help from the world when he lost everything? Did Paul have any help from the world when he was in prison? No, neither one of them had help from the world, but all the help from Jesus. I have gotten really close to the one I can count on, the one that provides everything that I need. The one that will never leave me. The one that is always thinking of me first. The one who is healing me from some past hurt. The one who is breaking me down and who is building me back up. The one that loves me, even when I don’t stay true to my promises. The one that has put people in my life here, just at the right time. The one that has fed me, when I was hungry and I didn’t know where to go to eat. The one that was the same yesterday, and is today and will be forever. The one that I will be with through eternity. The one, my Lord and Savoir, Jesus Christ.
Blessings to you and your family!
Nick
