Investing…for Eternity!
John Havener December 29th, 2008
As the year closes, there is much talk in the media of the battering the equities markets took this year and how to recoup your looses and profit in the future. Perhaps we need to “revalue” our investments and think in terms of returns in the eternal Kingdom of Christ. A dear friend shared a few year-end “investment” thoughts with you:
There were two little boys whose birthdays were celebrated quite differently. The entrance into the next stage of his life for one of the boys was celebrated with only a cupcake and small candle, the bare acknowledgment that he had been born. The other was given an “abundant entrance” into that next year – balloons, a beautiful cake, gifts, trophies for his past year’s accomplishments, cards from little friends perhaps telling how much he meant to them.That could be an illustration of the two kinds of entrance believers will have as they enter their next life. The entrance of some into heaven is described as just making it, “so as by fire” as Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:9-15. And others will have “an abundant entrance”, Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:11. In the preceding verses of this chapter we are told how this desired “abundant entrance” is achieved by how we live and do in this life.Of course the illustration above breaks down because the two boys are the recipients of what their respective mothers decide to do to celebrate. Perhaps the first is limited by poverty or illness while the second has ample resources. Our Lord is not limited either in resources or love. He receives all us believers into his Home with measureless love and joy. But in love he has set up a reward system as a wise and loving incentive to growth. If we ignore or fail to honor this “abundant entrance” he envisions for us as the reward for our godly lives(2 Peter 1:3-8) our future joy will be limited. (Who wants to enter that Door thru a fire which will burn away all God cannot honor?) The Apostle Paul speaks very plainly about this reward system in the 4th chapter of Philippians. He expresses his warm gratitude to the people of the
church in Philippi who had repeatedly sent him aid when he was in need. Then he ads this disclaimer in verse 17. “Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.” (NIV) Our heavenly savings account!
In Hebrews 13:16 the Word says, “Do not forget to do good and to share with others for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown HIM as you have helped his people, and continue to help them.”
(Hebrews 6:10) “Let us not become weary in doing good,” Gal. 6:9 tells us, “for at the proper time we will reap a harvest”- and rejoice in that abundant entrance!
“Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
I Cor. 15:58.
More than anything else, however, we want to please him, whether in our home here or there. For all of us must appear before Christ, to be judged by him. We will each receive what we deserve, according to everything we have done, good or bad, in our bodily life.
(2 Corinthians 5:9-10 GNB)
Erica Koehler