I don’t consciously try to work my truck into my posts but this morning the text just lends itself to it.
Matthew 6
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
I have a 57 Chevy truck. I named him Rusty. I didn’t think about the significance of naming something made mostly of of steel, Rusty. Rust is the end of steel. It would be like naming a baby “Mortal” or “Death is Coming”. (Sorry Rusty.)
But that is the sad truth. Rusty has cancerous rust in many places and will some day dissolve back into the earth where his parts came from. The same is true for me. I will breath my last breath and I will be gone. Or will I?
In 1 Corinthians Paul talks about the resurrection.
“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.”
I believe in the resurrection of the dead. I believe this because Jesus rose from the dead. He cooked, he ate, he was seen by over 500 people in one place, he could be touched, Mary Magdalene grabbed him outside the tomb and he said to Thomas, “touch me”.
This life isn’t all there is to life. None of the stuff we gather up
Here can move with us to the next chapter of life but we can send something ahead of us by investing in the kingdom.
The treasure test is like in a murder mystery, Follow the money. Your money will tend to pile up on and around the things you love. If you love the Kingdom of God and his people your check register will show it.
I am going to look at my checkbook and then have a talk with God about my priorities. (Rusty…)
I’m not trying to be Debbie Downer but we all will die. What will our life show? Where have we invested our heart and money and our time?
I leave with this:
“12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.”[a] But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.”
We by nature Put our money where our heart is. Who has our heart?
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