Secure Your Future In Eternity
By David J. Stewart | August 2013
Matthew 6:19-20, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”
I am sick and tired of hearing carnally-minded men promote the sale of gold,
silver and laying up worldly wealth. The Bible is not just a religious book.
In fact, it's not a religious book at all. The Bible is worth more than food
and all the wealth in the world. Job said that he regarded God's Word as
more necessary than his food. Job 23:12, “Neither have I gone back from
the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more
than my necessary food.” Does the Bible mean more to you than your
belly? Many people are buying gold, hedging their bank account, laying up
treasures for their old age. My friend, you may be dead by sundown. There's
no guarantee of tomorrow. Proverbs 27:1, “Boast not thyself of to morrow;
for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”
The Bible teaches that only that which we do for the Gospel's sake and the Lord Jesus Christ will be rewarded in eternity (Mark 10:29). You and I were born with NOTHING, and we will die with NOTHING. 1st Timothy 6:6-8, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” I feel sorry for the Egyptian Pharaoh's who are buried in the pyramids with all manner of furniture, preserved foods and worldly furnishings, thinking that they will take those things with them into eternity.
Biblically, they take NOTHING with them.
Sadly, they all went to Hell because they trust in their sun god, Ra,
instead of placing their faith in the Gospel of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
There's only one way to Heaven and that is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
(Galatians 3:26). Jesus died, was buried and resurrected. Christ paid our
debt of sin! Amen! Eternal life is a free gift, freely offered and freely
received.
Don't Pursue Laying Up Treasures In This World
The pursuit of earthly riches shows one's lack of faith in the Words of God, for this life cannot last indefinitely. Just as 1st John 2:15-17 teaches, this world will pass away and everything in it. The world is always seeking fresh, new and younger talent to replace the old, aging and DYING talent. Mick Jagger is an old man. Most people don't realize that these men are as bald as can be. They all wear wigs. Mick Jagger is in his 60's, but still has hair like a teenager. I won't mention any more names to be nice, but most of your favorite aging Rock stars are bald-headed, Godless, dirty-minded, old men. They're living for this temporal life. Sexual immorality is synonymous with Rock music. The Rock singers are as sex gods to women, who literally sign-up on a waiting list to date Gene Simmons of KISS (real Jewish name: Chaim Witz). I guarantee you that KISS and their fans won't be Rocking 'N' Rolling and partying all night in the depths of the Lake of Fire.
I plead with anyone reading this article that you forsake the goal of laying up treasures in THIS WORLD. Earthly riches mean nothing in God's eyes. The Lord can give us everything that we need. I feel sorry for people who work 6-7 days a week year-after-year, and then for one reason or another all that money is consumed, either due to health problems, legal expenses or white collar theft. I remember when the Enroll scandal went public. Some lifelong employees who had worked for 35 years at Enron oil lost over a million dollars in their retirement nest egg. Hell will be hot enough!!! Jesus warned us in Matthew 6:19-20 that thieves would break through and steal from us in this world, whether breaking into our home or breaking into our bank account or retirement savings electronically. People are thieves by nature!!!
Luke 12:15-21, “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 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.”
Read what our precious Savior said in Matthew 6:19-25 about laying up treasures in Heaven. Notice that the Lord tells us not to live for mammon. Biblically, it is IMPOSSIBLE to serve God and mammon. It's not hard, it IMPOSSIBLE...
Matthew 6:19-25, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
When you hear people selling gold or worldly investments, trying to convince you of the importance of securing your future here on earth, you tell them that you're a child of God and are laying up treasures in Heaven. Chances are that they will likely mock you, laugh at your attitude and try to belittle you. They have already chosen mammon. Tell them what Jesus said, that no man can serve God and mammon (wealth). Most people who pursue worldly riches and the love of money are in denial. They talk about how much they love God; yet they love money. They're mind in stayed on making money. They've time and thoughts are consumed with making more money.
My friend, money is the worst investment you'll ever make. Money in the bank is a sitting duck, just waiting to be stolen, confiscated or swindled from you. There are a hundred things that can happen. If not legal expenses, then a divorce. If not a divorce, then the IRS will come after you. If not the IRS, it could be a lawsuit. If not a lawsuit, it could be family that betrays you. The government cannot be trusted. You'll never know if someone is truly your friend until money is involved, and they stand to gain, and you see what they do. There's just something about money that once you have it, it has you. Psalms:62:10, “Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.”
I remember as a child watching the game show,
“THE PRICE IS RIGHT.” People, men and women alike, would jump up-and-down,
cry, shout and scream in exuberance, joy and excitement over making $5000 or
$10,000. Yet, when a Christian shouts “hallelujah” in public, people
consider them crazy. There's something wrong when unsaved people get more
excited over filthy lucre than we as Christians get excited about the things
of God. Praise God, I'm excited to be a Christian on the winning side in
Christ Jesus!!! Let the world have all their money and gold, just give me
Jesus. As I grow older, all that matters to me is going to Heaven
Afflictions Can Be A Blessing To Set Our Minds On Eternity
I began having serious health problems in 2004. Since March of 2004 I have endured chronic neck pain. It feels like the worst toothache possible, in the back of my neck where the bone is located. The pain is constant and radiates into my facial area. My gums hurt and my teeth feel like they're going to fall out at times. My eyes hurt behind the sockets, like I have cancer or something wrong behind the eye. My nose hurts. My face hurts all over. The nerves are all inflamed from the neck. I am miserable in pain all the time.
In addition, my arms feel doubled in size, burning, tingling and sharp radiating intermittent pain that extends down into my right thumb and big right tow. My legs feel weak, especially the right side (80% right side; 20% left side). My right leg and right arm feel half asleep all the time. I have a limp when I walk because of it. My body feels chills and an overwhelming feeling of burning up and freezing at the same time. It's called peripheral neuropathy. This was caused by surgery gone wrong, because my spinal cord was damaged. I've had two major neck surgeries, discectomy and fusion. I had the disk removed between C5-C6-C7. There's a titanium plate connecting the bones now. The pain is intolerable even with the 120 mg Oxycontin daily.
I've said all this to say that my attitude toward life has drastically changed as a result of my afflictions. I find myself giving away money to the poor, paying the bill for others who are short money at the store, and looking for ways to help others like never before. I feel like I'm already in Heaven. I am in so much pain that this life means nothing to me anymore. Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” I am ready to go home to be with the Lord. I have no desire to remain here on earth in this hellhole society another day. I leave big tips at restaurants and do nice things for people, leaving a Gospel Of John each time.
I'm not trying to be a great Christian, I just
want to please the Lord. I am a hurting Christian. My suffering causes me to
think about Heaven. It is frustrating to see so much selfishness around me.
The more that I care, the less it becomes obvious that other people DON'T
care. In as much pain as I am, I still return my shopping cart to the galley
where I got it, while others leave their carts in the open parking lot.
People just don't care these days. Look after any public gathering and
you'll see garbage galore, left on the ground for someone else to clean up.
Many people are selfish pigs!
God Promises To Reward All Laborers
When I consider the wickedness of the world, and I consider the New World Order (which is clearly promoted everywhere these days), and I consider how accurate and truthful the Word of God has been about everything... I am compelled to LAY UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN by taking heed to God's Word. Hebrews 6:10, “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” God rewards us for serving (ministering) to the saints (other Christian believers). The primary purpose of my ministry for the Lord is ministering to other Christians by providing resources, sermons, doctrinally sound information, encouragement, soul-winning helps, et cetera. I upload anything that I think will help other Christians in their walk with God. I also preach the Gospel and lead the lost to Christ to be saved, but my main goal is to help edify my brethren and sisters in the Lord.
Having said that, I beseech you to forsake all pursuits for worldly success, fame, career, retirement, security, money and wealth. May everything we do be done with Heaven in mind. What good will working hard for 40-50 years in a secular career matter when you die empty-handed—never having preached the Gospel, never having uplifted the weak hands of God's man, never having given alms to the poor, never having labored in prayer for others, never having lived for the things of Jesus Christ. Remember, God doesn't reward us for the number of people we win to Christ; but rather, for the labors we put forth witnessing (1st Corinthians 3:8).
God doesn't reward us for prayers answered; but
rather, for time spend in prayer. God rewards out LABORS, not our
effectiveness. Only God can save a soul. Only God can answer a prayer. Our
job is to preach, teach, pray, fast and live righteously in Christ.
Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not
I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I
live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
I believe that God rewards us for each and every thing that we do by
faith for Him, even giving a cup of water in a disciple's name who follows
Christ. Matthew 10:42, “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of
these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily
I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” No good deed will
go unnoticed or unrewarded if done in Jesus' name.
Make Sure You're Building On The Foundation Of Jesus Christ
1st Corinthians 3:11, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
The most important thing is that you labor for God as a born again Christian. Otherwise you are laboring in vain and building upon a false foundation, a house of cards built upon a foundation of sand that will crumble on judgment day. Jesus warned, YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN! (John 3:7). There is only one way to Heaven and that is by faith in Jesus, the Christ, the only begotten Son of God. If you add baptism to the Gospel, you will go to Hell. If you add good works or religious devotion to the Gospel, you will go to Hell forever. The Gospel is that Jesus DIED, was BURIED and RESURRECTED after three days from the dead (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). Receive the Gospel as full payment for your sins and you will be saved immediately, irrevocably and eternally. If saved, always saved! Many false religions are corrupting the Gospel by adding more requirements to it.
Some popular misconceptions concerning salvation, which are being passed around today in many Baptist churches:
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You don't have to confess your sins to be saved. Everyone's sins are forgiven. People burning in Hell already have their sins forgiven. Every Christ-denier has their sins already paid for...
2nd Peter 2:1, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”
The Bible says in 2nd Peter 2:1 that Jesus “BOUGHT THEM.” Bought who? False prophets who deny the Lord. Isn't it beautiful to know that Jesus paid for everyone's sins. Christ died for our sins 2,000 years ago. Everyone in Hell has their sins forgiven, but they would not accept the gift of God. Eternal life is a gift... “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us...” (Titus 3:5). Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eternal life is free and clear, paid in full, a gift waiting to be accepted by faith in the Gospel. Just believe and the work is done. John 6:29, “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:29 speaks of “the work of God,” and not a self-righteous work of man.
Galatians 1:9, “As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
2nd Corinthians 11:3-4, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”
Secure Your Future In Christ Jesus And Serve Him
Having said all that, I plead with you to secure your future in eternity:
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Make sure that you have been born again in Christ Jesus. Make the Gospel of Jesus Christ your sole hope for Heaven. Salvation is not mere mental acknowledgement of the truth; but rather, placing your personal trust in Christ's death, burial and resurrection as hope for your salvation. You are a guilty sinner and your sins have already been paid for. If you want to be forgiven, then just rely upon the name of Jesus. Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The Greek word for “call” means “to petition, to appeal unto.” In other words, if you go to Jesus to be saved, you will be. John 6:37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
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As a born-again Christian, get busy for God. Join a good Independent Fundamental Baptist Church, become a soul-winner, share the Gospel with lost sinners. Pray, abide in the Scriptures and walk with the sweet Savior!
Don't become choked by the cares, riches and pleasures of this world as Luke 8:14 warns. Jesus taught the parable of the seeds in Luke 8:12-15. The first group didn't get saved, because Satan took away the seed of God's Word from their heart. 1st Peter 1:23 says that the Word of God is the “SEED” by which we are born-again. Note that all Scripture references are King James Bible ONLY. 1st Peter 1:23, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” The second group of seeds got saved, but fell by the wayside due to persecution. These include the Chief Priests in John 12:42-43 who were saved, but didn't bear any fruit because they loved the praises of men more than the praises of God.
The focus of the parable of the seeds is soul-winning. In Luke 8:15 we read, “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” This is the group of believers who out of “AN HONEST AND GOOD HEART” preach the Gospel and lead lost sinners to Christ as their Savior. The Lord paid for our sins. God offers eternal life to us freely without charge or requirement. We owe the Lord nothing. However, if we have an HONEST and a GOOD heart, then we will give our life to the Lord as Paul said in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” If we are honest and good in our heart, then we will return the gesture to Christ by living for Him. After all, He gave His life for us, so we could have eternal life. God is going to reward every believer who prioritizes the things of God and lives for OTHERS in Christ Jesus.
Now living for others means nothing if it's not in Jesus' name. If the Gospel is not preached, then nothing else matters. Oprah Winfrey does much to help the poor, African Americans and Africans over in Africa. Oprah has done great works! But Oprah despises the Gospel, rejects Jesus as the Christ and is a major promoter of New Age heresy. What good is charity if it leads to Hell. The Bible teaches and warns that all good works will be forgotten if it's done in self-righteousness. Ezekiel 33:13, “When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.”
On judgment day Oprah will desperately scramble, grasping for her own self-righteousness to save her, because she has no faith in the Savior's righteousness. Oprah will be cast into the Lake of Fire mercilessly forever (Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8). My friend, you and I need God's righteousness, which is provided in Christ Jesus as 2nd Corinthians 5:21 teaches, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Here is one of my favorite Scriptures in Romans 4:5-6, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.” What a great deal! What a great deal! Even if you have no self-righteousness to offer God, none, that's ok, you can still be saved by placing your faith in the Savior instead. How can this be. It's simply because Jesus paid our sins debt in full. It's all paid, free and clear. That means even the worst sinner and vilest wicked man can be saved immediately if he'll simply place his faith in Christ, the Lamb of God.
