“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).

We hear a lot of talk these days about wars and rumors of war, strong earthquakes everywhere, famine, pestilence, and more. Obviously we are in the last days and the Rapture is on the near horizon. There are many commentaries written about these end days and websites abound on the subject; some people can hardly wait for the Rapture but others give prophecy little attention. Whether you are one eagerly awaiting the Rapture or are not interested in prophecy at all you need to ask yourself where your treasure is.

Believers and non-believers alike have lived on planet Earth for the last six thousand years or so and this has been the only home we’ve known. We work to buy a home, a car, education, etc., but where exactly is our treasure? Good or bad, happy or sad, angry or glad this world is where we have grown and flourished and we are used to the idea of working for our retirement or to put food on the table.

As Christians we need to be sure that our own efforts to gather treasures on earth don’t get in the way of our devotion to our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our treasure needs to be in heaven, not on earth. Believers should not look to the earthly treasure of this world for assurance. It is temporary and will one day blow away. Our focus needs to be on heavenly treasures and eternal rewards.

“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” (Matthew 6:19-21).

If we read, study, and believe the Scriptures we are fully aware of something greater existing on our horizon. God does not require believers to be poor, but He does want us to understand that earthly riches pale in comparison to heavenly treasure. Heaven is where eternal treasure is stored.

Most people would love to see the end to war, famine, hatred, all forms of evil, and have everything opposed to our well being eliminated from our environment. For Christians, one day that will be reality. All evil, malice, strife, hatred, envy, sickness, sadness, wealth and poverty will be completely forgotten the moment we enter that heavenly realm.

So why do so many Christians hold onto this earthly existence as though heaven doesn’t exist? Could it be that the riches of this life are so controlling that even believers can’t resist their attraction?

“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1 Timothy 6:9).

Pursuing worldly treasure can become more important to a person than pursuing heavenly treasure, and that is when we need to stop and take a good look at what our motivation in life is. Do we serve God and know that there awaits us many rewards in heaven, or do we serve the god of this world?

“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” (Matthew 6:24).

The word “mammon” comes from the Greek word “mamōnas” and simply means treasures and riches. Many Christians love to say “I’m living in the world but I’m not of the world.” Sadly we see that many Christians today have the same mindset as their worldly counterparts. Greed often controls the actions of Christians and non-Christians alike; so they aren’t just in the world but are also of the world and love mammon more than God.

“Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter” (James 5:5).

Christian, where is your treasure? Is it in this world serving mammon or have you stored your treasure in heaven by serving God?

How does one store treasure in heaven? It’s simple really. We serve Jesus. By putting Him first in our lives we will be awarded crowns. Not a royal crown but a crown of victory…a “stephanos.” One such crown is for temperance.

“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (1 Corinthians 9:25).

In other words, control yourself. You will earn a crown in heaven if you control your urges to follow lusts of the flesh. Learn temperance in all matters and gain control over your flesh. Another crown is for those who win souls to Christ.

“Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved” (Philippians 4:1).

Not only did Paul see the believers in Philippi as his joy and “stephanos” but he encouraged them to stand fast in their faith. A crown of rejoicing is mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 2:19, a crown of righteousness is mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:8.

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (James 1:12).

Do you love Him? James says when you are tried and endure you will receive a crown of life. There is a crown for being faithful unto death described in Revelation 2:10. Peter encourages his readers to feed the flock of God. Not for riches on earth but to serve the Lord and to be an example to others.

“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Peter 5:4).

These crowns are the treasure in heaven that every Christian should strive for, but keep your motive pure…not for personal gain but for His glory.

“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” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

Move away from worldly lusts and serve Jesus and your reward will be “stephanos” of victory.

God is not opposed to Christians having money to spare. There were wealthy people among Jesus’ earliest followers. Zacchaeus, Joseph of Arimathea, Lazarus, and Barnabas are just a few, but after they met Jesus they were not ruled by earthly wealth. In fact, after meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus, a publican, returned to the people four times what he had overcharged them. Barnabas sold his property to help support those first Christians who were turned out of the Temple.

Many Christians today have obtained great wealth and that is no sin, but earthly treasures are temporary in the life of the rich, and all Christians should use what they have to serve Jesus. Sin can and will take over when a person, Christian or non-Christian, becomes consumed with attaining wealth. The key word here is consumed.

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Wealth can create a significant obstacle to the Kingdom of God, but it doesn’t have to.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” Matthew 19:23-24).

Rich or poor, ask yourself where your treasure is. I hope you see it as being in heaven.

If tomorrow comes and you‘ve lost everything you have, will you trust God to supply your needs? It’s easy to say I’ll trust God when we haven’t really lost anything, but what if you lose your home, your car, your bank account, your family, and all your earthly possessions? That sounds like Job’s situation, doesn’t it?

He was wealthy but lost all he had, including his health. What did Job do? He trusted God.

“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” (Job 19:25).

Even before God entered His creation to redeem us, Job knew Him and trusted Him. How did God reward Job? He was restored to health, he had more children, and his herds grew again. His real treasure was in heaven, and he knew it.

We hold onto worldly treasures way too tightly. We need things like food and shelter, but too often our wants cause us to seek after earthly treasure rather than treasures in heaven. I wonder how many Christians really look forward to His appearing or yearn to win souls for the Lord more than they want a new car. Remember Jesus’ admonition to the young wealthy man who wanted to gain eternal life?

“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me” (Matthew 19:21).

That young man’s treasure was not in heaven.

“But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions” (Matthew 19:22).

His treasure was on earth and he was unable to see any benefit in knowing and following Jesus Christ.

Pride, greed, fear, covetousness, lust are ever recurring themes of trouble throughout the Bible. These sins take our focus off of Jesus and turn hearts to a materialistic world view. The more we have the more we want. Instead of seeing heaven as our real home where we will spend eternity with Jesus Christ, like the rich young man we become enamored with all we can accumulate and our treasure is in earthly desires.

Gaining more earthly treasure becomes our god. There is a direct correlation between where your treasure is and where your heart is. If you regard your material possessions as your treasure then your heart is set here on this earth, and that my friend is a far shot from heaven.

Where is your treasure, Christian? Is it in the First National Bank of Anywhere, or is it in heaven?

God bless you all,

Ron & Nathele Graham

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25).

We don’t know how long it will take until this fullness occurs but all the signs point to it happening very soon. God alone knows who will make a profession of faith in Christ before it’s too late but it is up to us to share the gospel with everyone we can. Wouldn’t it be exciting if the next person you approach with the gospel of Christ is that last person to make up the fullness that God is waiting for?

When that number is reached, Jesus Christ will call His Ekklesia (Christians) out of harm’s way; sometime after that the events of the Tribulation, will take place. That is a seven-year period of time that will be filled with horrors, but the last 3 ½ years of it will be terrifying beyond comprehension. It is up to each one of us to share the gospel with our family and friends and pray over each one so that they have every opportunity to accept Christ’s free gift of salvation.

As Christians it should be our fondest desire to share God’s message of salvation with those around us who are lost. It isn’t up to us to try to decide if Aunt Bessie or Uncle Joe will accept Christ’s free gift of salvation, we just need be obedient and tell them the truth. God knows who will come to a saving relationship with His Son Jesus and who won’t. You and I can’t see all those who are being saved on a daily basis, but know this, not one day passes that there isn’t rejoicing in heaven because someone has accepted Christ as their Savior…but someone had to tell them.

God wants Aunt Bessie to come to know Him and it’s up to you to tell her. “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” Ezekiel 18:23. Do you wonder why Jesus is waiting and has not called His Ekklesia Home yet? God takes no pleasure in knowing the wicked (that is those who are hostile to God and guilty of sin) should perish. He wants all to come to salvation through Jesus and He needs you to share the gospel with the lost.

Everyone who has accepted Christ as their Savior had someone share the gospel with them. Can you remember the exact day that happened with you? Where would you be right now if the Lord would have come for His Ekklesia the day before you gave your life to Him? I’ve asked myself that same question whenever I sit and ponder why He delays.

There is still at least one more person who will be saved, and thank God He is willing to wait for them. He won’t wait forever. “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:17. When His wrath is poured out life on earth will be near to impossible and few will survive those final seven years.

We all have family members and friends who have not accepted the truth of the gospel of Christ. There’s a time coming in the very near future when the “fullness of the Gentiles” will have come in and God will say enough is enough. The Rapture will happen soon and after that the time of Jacob’s Troubles.

It’s exciting for a Christian to think about it, but it is also sad because so many people we love reject Christ. You need to share the gospel with them. God is patient as He waits for that final person to accept Christ just as He was patient before sending the Flood of Noah’s day, but there did come a point that He could wait no longer.

“Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water” (1 Peter 3:20).

God told Noah to build the Ark and then waited 120 years before He finally sent His judgment. Only eight people were spared because only Noah and his family obeyed God. We have also been warned of a coming judgment and only those who know Jesus will be saved. Don’t wait to tell someone about God’s free gift of salvation. Tomorrow may be too late.

God always gives warning before His judgment. His desire is that none should perish, but it is up to each of us individually to listen and turn to Him. Nineveh was the pagan capital of the Assyrian Empire and was extremely wicked. God sent Jonah to these pagan Gentiles to warn them to change their ways or face God’s anger. Jonah did go (unwillingly) to Nineveh and told them of God’s coming judgment if they didn’t repent.

“So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them” (Jonah 3:5).

Jonah was reluctant to tell them but he did. Someone had to tell them or they wouldn’t have seen their need to repent. We also have been warned that the wrath of God is coming and that it will be worse than anything ever seen before. Only accepting the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ will save anyone from the wrath to come. Share the gospel with someone so that they can be given the chance to repent.

Old Testament or New, our God is always the same. He’s patiently waiting to accept His children into His Kingdom. One day His patience will run out, the Ekklesia will be raptured, and His wrath will be poured out. All those who refuse to listen to the warnings and accept the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for salvation will be left behind. Jesus told of the signs of the times, and they are happening. Our friends and family may laugh at us or mock us when we talk of the Rapture and the Great Tribulation, but we need to tell them anyway.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Jesus shed His blood for all and it us up to Christians to share His truth. Your friend may not live to see the Tribulation, but may die today. Share the Good News with everyone you can.

Many people have come to the erroneous conclusion that they have been basically good all their lives and deserve to go to heaven.This lie is perpetuated by those who follow Satan. Many have cursed God because they believe He damns people to Hell, that He is unloving and unfeeling. How wrong they are.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Does that sound unloving or unfeeling? It is God’s love which transcends all love. Jesus, God incarnate, stepped out of heaven to die on the cross to purchase our salvation. God doesn’t want anyone to perish but it isn’t His decision to send anyone to hell or have them face His coming wrath. That decision lies in the laps of each person individually.

Nobody is “good enough” to go to heaven on their own merit. There is only one way to spend eternity in heaven. Jesus made it clear: “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” John 14:6. Salvation is only through Jesus. Tell everyone you can before it’s too late.

Many people have a very difficult time believing in a God who has created a place of eternal damnation, but God didn’t create the everlasting lake of fire for humans. God created it for Satan and all the fallen angels that rebelled against God.

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).

They have no choice where they will spend eternity,but we have. God makes it clear that we must make the choice for our self. Jesus tells us what one must do to be saved.

“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:28-29).

Believing on the one God sent is the only prerequisite for salvation. God’s Word has been translated into many languages and there is no reason that anyone should reject the truth of the Scriptures.

“And He marveled because of their unbelief” (Mark 6:6a).

Unbelief is a difficult thing to comprehend; even so it is quite prevalent in all societies today. Someone has to tell the unbelievers about Jesus. Where do you stand? If you’re a born again believer in Christ that’s wonderful, praise God!But wait just a minute, where do your family and your friends stand? God won’t wait forever and you must tell them the truth now.

If you are reading this and you have not accepted Christ’s free gift of salvation, don’t wait one more moment. You may be the one that makes up the fullness that God is waiting for. If you dillydally trying to make up your mind it may be too late for you. Once that “fullness of the Gentiles” is reached, God will take the Ekklesia (all in Christ believers) up in the Rapture. If you haven’t accepted Christ’s full payment for your salvation then you will be left here to face horrors that have never before been seen. You don’t want that. If no one has explained the gospel to you then keep reading. Adam chose to eat the forbidden fruit and all of creation fell.

From that time onward there has been a huge gulf between humans and God. We cannot bridge that gulf by our own efforts. Sin will not allow it. Because He loves us so much God chose to bridge that gulf. He stepped into His creation as a human. Because He was fully human He was one of us. He allowed Himself to be crucified on a cross and shed His blood for our salvation. He was also fully God and because of that fact His blood is the only “once for all” sacrifice to bridge the gulf and take away our sin.

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”(Acts 4:12).

In order to obtain salvation you must accept His free gift. He will not force you to accept it, but if you don’t you will spend eternity separated from Him…forever in the lake of fire. There now, someone has told you. Now, the decision regarding where you will spend eternity is up to you.

God bless you all,

Ron & Nathele Graham