Death... Gain or Loss?

For the one who stores treasures on Earth, death is loss, but for the one who stores treasures in Heaven, death becomes gain.

In his longest sermon, known as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says this: "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, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19-20).

Jesus commands us not to store up earthly treasures. Why? Because they're bad? No. Because they won't last!

Jesus makes absolutely clear that all earthly treasures will not last. Either they will leave you while you live, or you will leave them when you die. There are no exceptions.

Jesus tells us not to store up earthly treasures, but amazingly he instead says that we can—indeed, should—store up for ourselves treasures in heaven. It's an amazing concept that we can use our earthly (temporary) treasures in such a way as to assure ourselves heavenly (eternal) treasures.

How can you store up for yourself treasures in heaven? By investing in eternal causes instead of temporary ones—by giving to the poor instead of hording up money for yourself (see 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Matthew 19:21, Mark 10:21, and Luke 12:33). By putting your treasures into eternal causes you secure for yourself treasures that can never be lost.

Proverbs 23:5 says, Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Next time you buy something you really care about, imagine it sprouting wings and flying off. That will help you keep an eternal perspective, remembering that every earthly treasure is temporary.

When you die, you will lose every treasure that you have stored up on Earth, but when you die, you will also receive every treasure that you have stored up in heaven. In that way, death is a loss for the one who stores up treasures on Earth, but death is a gain for the one who stores up treasures in Heaven.

[Weekly Wisdom - ChristNotes.org]

Friends of Jesus

The person who does not obey Christ's commandments cannot be His friend, because he is not of one mind with Christ -- that is evident. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3). True friendship does not exist between those who differ on first principles. There can be no points of agreement between Jesus Christ and the person who will not obey Him, for he in fact is saying, "Lord Jesus, your pure and holy will is obnoxious to me; your sweet and gracious commands are weariness to me." What friendship can there be here? They are not of one mind.

Christ is for holiness;
this person is for sin.
Christ is for spiritual-mindedness;
this person is carnally minded.
Christ is for love;
this person is for self.
Christ is for glorifying the Father;
this person is for honoring himself.

How can there be any friendship when they are diametrically opposed in design, purpose, and spirit? It is not possible.

[Spurgeon, C.H. Being God's Friend. New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 1997: 142-143]

Athiest Ads Rejected

[Los Angeles Times, January 18, 2009]

Is it no wonder that the world has almost no understanding and fear of God? If freedom of ungodly speech and expression abounds, then let it abound, including a declaration that God is not wanted. Why the deceptive game of pretending to be a people who are godly when the evidence proves otherwise? Oh beware the deceit that is spreading throughout the world, especially in nations and places that claim godliness and full of Christian virtues, when in reality, the statues and the commandments of God are disregarded and neglected. Awake and be on guard against such deceit!

How Great Thou Art

I'm reading through this awesome devotional. Every page, one for each day of the year, is packed with deep spiritual reality, written by God-fearing, God-exalting, and God-centered men and women, classic and modern writers in the company of D.L. Moody, John MacArthur, John Piper, Charles Spurgeon, A.W. Tozer, Joni Eareckson Tada, R.C. Sproul, Martin Luther, Arthur W. Pink, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, J. Vernon McGee, John Calvin, J.I. Packer, Ray Stedman, Josh McDowell, Norm Geisler, Philip Yancey, Charles R. Swindoll, Max Lucado, and the list goes on and on. Compiled by Steve Halliday and Willian Travis, they credited John Piper for providing the inspiration for this book. I found this devotional book at a local Christian bookstore and bought five or six copies because I haven't quite seen a book like this one. Anyone who is seeking the deep mysteries and majesty of God will not be disappointed. It's compiled thematically:

Jan. - The Majesty of God
Feb. - The Holiness of God
Mar. - The Love of God
Apr. - The Sovereignty of God
May - The Goodness of God
Jun. - The Righteousness and Justice of God
Jul. - The Grace and Forgiveness of God
Aug. - The Omnipotence of God
Sept. - The Omniscience and Wisdom of God
Oct. - The Providence of God
Nov. - The Truthfulness and Faithfulness of God
Dec. - Surprise!

If Ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments

Perhaps you have almost taken it for granted that you love Jesus, but it must not be taken for granted. Some of you have been born into a religious atmosphere, you have lived in the midst of godly people, and you have never been out into the wicked world to be tempted by its follies. Therefore, you have come to the careless conclusion that you must assuredly love the Lord. This is unwise and perilous. Never glory in armor that you have not tested, or rejoice in love for Christ that has not been tried and proven. What an awful thing if you should be deceived and mistaken!

It is most kind of the Savior to raise a question about your love, and therefore to give you an opportunity to examine yourself and see whether you heart is right. It would be far better for you to err on the side of too much anxiety than on that of carnal security. To be afraid that you are wrong, and therefore to make sure of being right, will bring you to a far better end than being sure that you are right and therefore refusing to examine the ground of your hope. I want you to be fully assured of your love for Jesus, but I do not want you to be deceived by a belief that you have Him if you do not. "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts." (Psalm 139:23)

Remember, if anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, he will be "Anathema Maranatha" (1 Cor. 16:22), cursed at His coming. This applies to everyone, even though he may be very eminent. An apostle turned out to be a "son of perdition" (John 17:12) -- may not you? Any man, even though he may be a learned bishop, a popular pastor, a renowned evangelist, a venerable elder, an active deacon, or the most ancient member of the most orthodox congregation, may yet turn out not to be a lover of the Lord. Though he has gathered to break bread in the sacred name with a select company, if he does not truly love the Lord Jesus Christ, the curse rests on him, whoever he may be. So let us, right now, take from the Master's mouth the heart-searching word, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Let us take it to heart, as if it is addressed to each one of us, personally and alone.

[Spurgeon, C.H. Being God's Friend. New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 1997: 111-112]

Storiez by Shai Linne

Storiez by Shai Linne, his third album created in 2008.

The tracks sound good but it's worthwhile to listen to the lyrics carefully, as they speak of important spiritual truths. The lyrics can be found on the left side of Shai Linne's blog, http://lyricaltheology.blogspot.com/

If you want to play individual tracks, click here. Listen to the entire album and be blessed.

You Must Suffer

[John Piper - One Passion 06]