I heard a thought this week on YouTube from Pastor John Burke. I have been working this over in my mind, so I will share it with you to see what you think. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . . " (Matthew 6:19–20).
We cannot send funds into heaven. We cannot take our treasures with us. I have been watching the wildfire evacuations happening in northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. As I sit here in Ontario, I only have to deal with the smoke; I am not losing my home or business. My husband, Wes, has asked me to update our evacuation list, but I don't like thinking about it, so I put it off.
We live in an area that could go quickly if a fire were burning at this end of Thunder Bay. I can't get everything into our car that I would want to take with me. Most items don't have monetary value, but friends or relatives gave us this or that so I treasure those possessions.
I thought of that as I listened to Pastor Burke. He interviews people like Dr. Mary Neal, Don Piper and Captain Dale Black about their death experiences. He has interviewed thousands of people over 30 years to better understand the similarities and differences in what people experience that have a documented, clinical death and then are revived.
Some people have a hellish experience while many others have a loving heavenly encounter. These three people are particularly inspiring to me. The people who have an encounter with God and with heaven talk about the all-encompassing love coming from God, His angels and from souls who have gone before them.
Pastor Burke said that he had concluded that our treasure in heaven is love and the godly relationships we have built here!
Jesus told His followers to "store up." That means we have a part in determining the extent of our treasure. So-how do we store it up? Jesus left us with a command to love God and love others. He even gave a "new" commandment to His disciples. He told them to love each other as He had loved them (John 13:34).
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:6–10: "We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. However, as it is written: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.' But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.'"
Here, then, is what I wrestle with: How do I really love God? How do I love those in the body of Christ in a way that encourages them? How do I love my husband and children God's way? How do I treat the people who don't know Christ yet? How do I decide which of society's ways are right and which are wrong?
God warns us about wolves in sheep's clothing or those in the church who have turned their hearts towards evil. We are to be wise-not naïve people just going along with anything.
Our first assignment is to love God. That means we get to know Him; take time to hear His thoughts and be willing to follow His ways. This is quite different from our society's culture.
Now, if we just had some cookies and tea or coffee to discuss ideas together, it would be perfect. Have a great day and stay safe.
Sue Carlisle grew up on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. An enrolled member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, her passion is to encourage people to look at creation and see our awesome Creator. Sue is author of Walking with the Creator Along the Narrow Road (see page 19). She and her husband, Wes, now live in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
