Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (Matthew 6:19,20)
There are two commandments here: one, do not lay up treasures on the earth; and two, do lay up treasures in Heaven.
Matthew 6:21 gives the reason: "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Since the issues of our life and the words of our mouth come from our heart, we can understand that wherever our heart is, that is where we ourselves are. This verse points out to us the choice that every Christian must make.
There are at least nine treasures we can lay up in Heaven:
Eternal life.
Freedom from sin.
Authority.
Power.
Status.
Abilities.
Opportunities for service.
Relationships.
Rest in Christ in God.
Each of these nine treasures has a counterpart on the earth. It is impossible to pursue both the heavenly treasure and its earthly counterpart. We must choose whether to lay up the treasure in Heaven or to lay up its counterpart on the earth.
The treasures of Heaven will be given to each Christian according to his behavior in his body. They will be handed out when the Lord returns from Heaven, although it may happen that we receive them in a measure now. Here is the fulfillment of II Corinthians 5:10:
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Eternal life. Eternal life is not only perpetual existence. Satan has perpetual existence but he does not possess one particle of eternal life. Eternal life is a quality of life. It is the Life that Christ is. It is eternal, incorruptible, resurrection life. It is energy to overcome sin and self-seeking, to thrust aside the world, Satan, and our own lusts and rebellion. It is life lived in the fullness of the Spirit, Substance, Presence, and knowledge of God in Christ. It is Divine power!
When first we receive Christ we receive eternal life. Then we use the strength from that portion of life to pursue more life. We "lay hold" on eternal life. We seek more abundant eternal resurrection life. We sow to the Spirit of God so that we will reap life everlasting in the Day of the Lord (Galatians 6:8).
As through the Spirit of God we overcome the world, Satan, and our lusts and self-will we are given to eat of the tree of life that is in the midst of the Paradise of God. If we are faithful to Christ to the point of death we will receive a crown of eternal, incorruptible life—the authority and power to live and rule in eternal life.
Eternal life is the Shechinah, the Glory, the Presence, of God Almighty. Eternal life is the Consuming Fire of Israel
And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. (Exodus 29:43)
The Glory on the Tabernacle and inside the Most Holy Place was eternal life.
Eternal life is given to the conqueror, God's warrior, in the form of "hidden manna" and he then is able to overcome every adversary, every obstacle, every sin, every aspect of his own rebellious, self-willed nature.
Eternal life created the earth, the other planets, the sun and moon, the stars.
Eternal life raised the Lord Jesus from the dead.
Eternal life is righteousness, joy, love, peace, the ability to perform God's will.
Satan and the demons have energy but it is not the energy of God. It is a dark, proud, lustful violence, devoid of righteousness, without joy, love, or peace.
Human beings have physical energy proceeding from the burning of oxygen. But physical energy is negligible compared to the energies in the spirit realm. All that physical energy accomplishes is to hold us upright, as it were, while we choose between Divine life and satanic life. Physical life is inconsequential and soon leaves the body, with the result that the body returns to the dust from which it was formed.
All we truly desire is found in the eternal Life of God.
The energy of sin corrupts every human being. When we receive the Lord Jesus He gives us of the Holy Spirit, not in abundance but as a guarantee of the future filling of our body with Divine Life.
The goal of redemption is to be filled with eternal life in our spirit, soul, and body.
The earthly counterpart of incorruptible resurrection life is the life of flesh and blood. Flesh and blood are our treasure on the earth. Life in the flesh consists of eating, sleeping, working, playing, and reproducing. This is the existence of an animal, such as a horse. Because of the pressure from unclean spirits these five actions of the flesh often are carried to excess in human beings.
We have a choice to make. If we live in our fleshly desires we will not grow in resurrection life. If we choose to allow the Spirit of God to crucify our fleshly life, if we present our body a living sacrifice to the Lord, then, at the coming of Christ from Heaven, we will receive a glorious body fashioned from eternal resurrection life.
We shall live forever in the immediate Presence of God and the Lamb. We shall possess love, strength, righteousness, peace, and joy that never will diminish—not throughout the ages of ages. We shall be wonderfully, marvelously, alive.
To be continued.
Copyright © Trumpet Ministries Inc
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