We do not need great education to understand that on this earth is no real and lasting satisfaction. That our pleasures are only vanity and that death, which threatens us every moment can bring our journey through this world to a end at any time. There is nothing more real than this.
Our world is a fallen world. Sin, death, and suffering fills the planet. The world, as it is, is not what it should have been. There’s nothing under the sun that we can totally rely on. Not even the ground beneath our feet, as anyone who has suffered through an earthquake could tell you. In one sense, though, that could be good. Why? Because this world, as it now is, is not our home. It’s a place scheduled for destruction.
2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
One of the greatest dangers we face is to forget this, to get so caught up in the world that we end up perishing with it.
We have this sad example of a women. The things of this world had come so dear to her heart that not even 2 Angel’s taking her by the hand and leading her out of a Godless city, could direct her heart and thoughts away from the earthly.
Instead of feeling honored that God was sparing her from the coming destruction, she exchanged a place of refuge for a glimpse of her cherished home. Perhaps, her transformation to a pillar of salt was so sudden, that she never even got a glimpse of the home she so cherished. Her heart was bound to Sodom. Are we like Lot’s wife? Are our possessions, our family, our luxuries pressing so close to our hearts that our Redeemer has no place in this heart of ours?
What are some things in this world that make life here so hard? In what ways can these hardships be a blessing? In what way do they help us remember that this world is not our final home?
Mark 10
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
This young man, a ruler, had great possessions and a position of responsibility. His heart must have been awakened with love for the Savior as he watched Him with the people. He was so deeply moved that He ran after Christ and kneeling at His feet, asked with sincerity and earnestness the question so important to his soul and to every human being.
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
One heart longed to embrace the love of Christ and have eternal life and one heart looked at the man with a love that wanted nothing more then to embrace him and give him access to eternal life. Scripture doesn’t mention the sorrow that entered the Saviors heart as he watched this ruler walk away but it was a love and sorrow that we fail to fully comprehend.
This ruler, that was surrounded by possessions, might have had everything that a man could wish for but it’s obvious to see that his heart wanted something more, something he did not possess. As He knelt before his Redeemer his heart cried out for something more but first he must give up the earthly treasures that were so near and dear to his heart. Christ called upon him to choose between heavenly treasure and worldly treasure. This ruler said he was keeping the commandments but he wasn’t for he had an Idol that he worshipped, his possessions. He loved his possessions more than God, he loved the gifts more than the Giver.
Jesus called another wealthy man to His service who did abandon his profitable job and went to follow the Savior.
Luke 19
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
Zacchaeus made haste and did not hesitate to heed the call. All that the people of Jericho saw was Jesus dwelling at the home of a sinner. They did not see a man forsaking earthly treasures for heavenly treasures. We may think that we could never make the mistake that the rich young ruler made because we don’t have the income He had. All we need is earthly treasures that are loved more then we Love God. One single treasure that we hold close to our hearts.
11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of [a]temptation fall away. 14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. Luke 8:11-15
Christ specified the things that are dangerous to the soul. As He mentions the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches. These are what choke the word. The soul ceases to draw nourishment from Christ, and spirituality dies out of the heart.
Many of Christ’s followers forget the lesson He has bidden us to learn from the flowers of the field. They do not trust to His constant care. Christ cannot carry their burden, because they do not cast it upon Him.
Many become so absorbed in the many cares of this world that they have no time for prayer, no time for the study of the Bible, no time to seek and serve God. But the time will surely come when there will no longer be time to win this eternal crown that could have been ours. The enemy works with great effort for he knows his time is short but how many of us truly realize how short our time here on earth is? What are we doing with the time that has been granted to us?
Matthew 24:42
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
How can we possibly watch for his soon appearing if we are busy watching our neighbor and making sure we keep up with them with things that are often times just vanity? Watching and chasing after every new idea that some worldly heart comes up with. The things that we chase after are increasing daily and it will greatly burden every bystander that has their eyes fixed on eternal things.
Matthew 24
38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
When the Son of Man comes back many will not be watching and they will be taken by an overwhelming surprise. When the flood came and swept them all away so will it also be among us when the Son of Man comes back. Scripture tells us in Matthew 24:27 that it will be as sudden as the lightning that cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west. We all know the speed of lightning and woe unto us if we should be found unprepared,
Do we truly desire a place around His throne?
When you fall in love with the man of Calvary, earthly things start becoming something that your heart no longer cares about. It’s only Christ in us, that can fill up and satisfy this heart of ours that is desperately crying out for something much more!!
As Elijah was about to be taken to heaven with a chariot of fire he asked Elisha, ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
A double portion is a double portion of God’s spirit. One of our greatest needs in this world is to be filled with this same Spirit and power that dwelled in Elijah and Elisha. These men were filled with God’s spirit and had they been filled with the things of this world they never would have had God’s Spirit rest on them, they never would have received power.
Elisha did not ask for worldly honor, for a high place among the great men of the earth. That for which he craved was a double portion of the Spirit given to Elijah. What if we would be asked this question? What would our answer be? Would our greatest desire be to be filled with a double portion of Gods Spirit or would our worldly heart take the opportunity to ask for things that will not be profitable on that great day when the books shall be opened? What is the greatest desire of our heart? Isn’t it time for us to start aiming higher? Isn’t it time for us to escape this lukewarm condition where our Christian walk lacks faith and power?