What Treasure Do You Seek?

Treasures are great. What treasure do you seek? There is so much excitement when we find a treasure. But there is no treasure on this earth that can compare to that which will be waiting in heaven for those of us who trust in Jesus. Even now, here on this earth, we will receive some reward. Following Jesus does not guarantee an easy life, or riches, or good health, but we will have joy even through hard times. We will have confidence knowing that Christ is always by our side and the glory that awaits us in heaven. Jesus gives a few parables about treasures that we ought to seek.

Matthew 6:19-21

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Luke 12:29-34

“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Jesus is teaching us that there is more than what this life holds. We do not need to worry or fear but look ahead to God’s promises and the eternity that awaits us.

Matthew 13:44-46

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

There is nothing greater nor nothing more important than to know Jesus Christ and trust in Him. When we turn to Him, when we believe, He gives us grace and promises us eternity in heaven with Him. Not by the works or good deeds that we do, but by the sacrifice that He made, by paying for our sins on the cross. And not only that, we will receive rewards when we get to heaven for the good things we have done.

2 Corinthians 5:9-10

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Revelation 22:12-14

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

The judgment seat of Christ, or Bema, is where believers will be judged for their works to receive their rewards or crowns (see the blog post, What Crown will We Receive?). We will not be at the Great White Throne judgement. That will be for those who have not accepted Christ and will be judged for their works. But without Christ, none of us are good enough. But those who are in Christ have already been saved. We have been declared righteous by the blood of the Lamb. Our treasure awaits us in heaven. As we surrender to God, would we not do anything for Him? There is no greater treasure than that which Christ offers us.

What are you willing to do for the one who gave so much for you? Jesus came to this world to take away our sins. He carried them to the cross. He gave His life for us and paid for our sins. That is how much He loves us. We were created to do good works. We do not do them for salvation, but because of it. We do not sacrifice for salvation but because He has already made that sacrifice and we have that assurance of eternal life with Him in heaven. We walk as Jesus walked and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit because we can look forward to the promise and reward, and be encouraged by those who are around us and went before us.

Hebrews 11:24-26

By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

Hebrews 11:39-12:2

And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

There is so much awaiting us that we cannot comprehend. God is so good and He loves us so much. He keeps His promise and always does what is best for us. He gives us strength when we need it, He guides us through the tough times, He gives us life, and He awaits for us in heaven.

John 14:1-3

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”