For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also — Matthew 6:21 KJV
Do you treasure the things of this world or the things of God? Answer wisely. Where you will spend eternity rests on it. Why? Because your answer may tell whether you are a way side believer, stony ground believer, thorny ground believer or a good ground believer. Mark 4:1-20 KJV
See people today think that because they made a “decision” for Christ that makes them saved. They believe that they can live however they want no matter how wild and reckless and sinful and it’s okay because they made a “decision” for Christ. That’s a popular teaching today. It’s also very wrong.
There are also those that think they’re saved because they sit in church every Sunday morning, even though they were wildin’ out in the club the night before. Or they think they are saved because they watch a little “Christian” TV from time to time, or have cute little religious figurines, photographs and what not all over the house, car or job or say a few empty prayers, amongst other things. That’s also false. Sorry to break it to you. I know it’s tough.
I don’t watch a lot of “Christian” TV, but one Sunday I decided to check out a popular preacher with the celebrities and such in L.A. And I’ll never forget when he said “ I don’t want to preach to you about sin. I just want to love on you.” I almost fell on the floor. My mouth dropped open and everything. What kind of “Pastor” doesn’t preach about sin? Because if he really loved you he would tell you to come to Christ. To come out of sin and live holy for Jesus. To give your entire life to Christ and accept His gift of eternal life. That’s real love. Unfortunately, the false “gospel” that this “Pastor” preaches is the norm today. And it’s spiritually deadly.
It’s not enough to say that you believe in Jesus. James 2:19 in the King James Bible says “ Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe and tremble.” Well we know that devils aren’t saved, so are you sure that you are? What does your life look like?
Coming to Christ requires more than saying a few words and making a decision. You must give your life completely to Christ. And that means turning away from your sinful ways and learning to walk in Holiness. Christianity, true faith in Christ, is not about trying to force God’s hand to improve your life and make it all rosy and perfect. It’s not about trying to twist God’s arm to get money, recognition, health or whatever the case may be for you. It’s a lifestyle. A complete and total lifestyle change. You have broken Gods law; the ten commandments. And the punishment for doing so is eternity in Hell. I know that talking about hell is not P.C. (politically correct) these days but the reality of it won’t change just because you don’t like to hear about it.
You don’t serve Christ to attempt to use Him to acquire things in this life like a lot of false preachers today will tell you to do. “Just come to Christ and get a new house, a new car, a new job and a whole lot of money!” That’s bogus, unscriptural crap! You serve Christ because He died for you to save you so that you won’t have go to Hell for eternity, if you’ll just give your life to Him and follow Him. If your treasure is any worldly thing then you need to examine yourself.
Yes, sanctification is a process. And yes, you’ll always be a sinner saved by grace. We all mess up sometimes. We all struggle with sin. My question for you is are you struggling with sin? Or are you indulging in sin because you think, falsely, that you’ve got a get out of hell free card, so you can do what you want? Romans 6:1-2 KJV says “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” If you think that grace is cheap and you can play God you need to guess again.
What do you treasure? What sin do you treasure? Sex, drugs, alcohol, lying, cheating, porn, TV? I know of people that would rather defile themselves with crap on TV than deny themselves that sin, and turn from those things which dishonor God. Maury Povich, Jerry Springer and the like are not of God. The people that come on those shows are lost and in need of Christ. The same goes for pornography. And those that make these shows and films use these lost people for profit and gain. Your heart should ache at the plight of these lost souls, not being entertained by there lost condition. Those people are hell bound. How can you sit back and be entertained by their hell bound condition? These are some of the people that Jesus has told us to go out into all the world and preach the gospel to. Where is your love and concern for their spiritual condition? Don’t get me wrong. Everything on TV is not a sin. I’m not preaching legalism here. That’s not my thing. I’m not saying that you can’t watch TV. But, if it’s obviously wrong you need to turn the channel or turn it off.
Maybe you treasure something else? Do you treasure money? There is nothing wrong with having or acquiring wealth. A lot can be done for the kingdom if you use your money wisely for the gospel. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:10 KJV “for the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” If life is all about getting money for you, you have a serious problem.
What is your treasure? Anything that keeps your eyes off of Christ or away from Christ is an idol and you need to let it go. You may need to walk away from friends, even family. You don’t stop loving them or praying for them. But you need to step back from them if they are keep you from Christ.
Where is your treasure? Only you know and I hope that you are more concerned with storing up treasure in Heaven than in the world. Matthew 6:19-21 KJV says “Lay not up for yourselves treasure upon the earth, where moth and dust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasure 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.”
I hope that you have given Christ more than just your words but your entire heart. Matthew 10:38-39 KJV says “ And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”
Luke 13:24 KJV says “ Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Matthew 7:13-14 says “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many will go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there that find it.”
I want to be worthy of Christ. I want to enter in at the strait gate. That means that I must not give God my lip service, but truly repent of my sins and accept His free gift of salvation, and give my entire heart and life to Him. I must deny myself all things that appeal to my sinful nature and practice self-discipline. To live a godly life and love all people, and do what God has commanded me to do in His Word even when the world is against me.
You can’t be a Christian and purposefully live in sin. You must give your life to Christ. You must choose who you will serve. I choose to live for Christ, my Greatest Treasure. Who (or what) will you serve? God or sin? Where ( or what) is your treasure?
Copyright © 2011 Haneefah Turner. All Rights Reserved.
