Some want to create empires and erect edifices to themselves. Others may not want things on such a large scale, but they are busy making a living, buying houses and cars, accumulating possessions, and constructing nest eggs while planning for their future. All in all, they’re focused on earthly assets. They plan for the future, but they’re not looking far enough down the road to their ultimate future. That future for some, may be closer than they think. To be clear, possessions are fine in the right place; until, they possess you.
2 Peter 3:10-13 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation (conduct or behavior) and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
The bigger point is all these things are going to burn. Talk about global warming! There will not be so much as a speck of ash left. And then what? What is important to you? Consider what Jesus taught us.
And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God (Luke 12:16-21)
What on earth could possibly be worth comparing to, much less desiring, anything in Heaven? We are told that “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). Ultimately, God is our Exceeding Great Reward; nevertheless, Jesus told us to store up treasures in Heaven where they cannot be destroyed. Furthermore, He said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (see Matthew 6:20-21). Would it be better to be busy about our Father’s business than about the temporal here and now? If we believe Scripture, as many of us profess we do, shouldn’t we be more focused on lost souls and discipling nations for the glory of God? Everything we do will be tested by fire. Where are you in relation to His will? His will may include great possessions, or it may not. In the long run, what place do they have in your life?
1 Corinthians 3:12-15 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
