It’s so much more than the 1″ of red tape

You’re probably saying to yourself, what in the world is he talking about right?  Let me explain, I have an image of a rope and I want you to imagine it goes on and on, let’s say it’s 500 feet long.  That represents eternity, our eternal lifetime with God.  Now the red tape that you see on the end, which is about 1 inch long represents our life, let’s say 75-80 years.  So here is the problem and this is what’s concerning, the vast majority of the world and a good portion of Christians only live in this 1-inch space of red tape.  This is their primary concern, this one inch of area on this infinite timeline.  Listen to what I am saying, it’s a scary thought that some of you are so concerned with this red inch like education, career, gain, entertaining yourself, happiness, and then retirement.  You’ve missed the bigger picture, we are so concerned with all that’s happening within the boundaries of the 1 inch that it has blinded us to the true future that awaits.

The bible says in 1 John 2:17:

 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

So, think with me for a moment that the Word of God is telling us that the world and its lusts are passing away, but he who does the will of God abides forever.  So if everything we see, everything we crave, I’m talking everything is going to go away one day, like be no more, but the kingdom of God and all its glory will be forever and remain, then shouldn’t our focus be sowing into that kingdom instead of this world?  I mean it’s basic math.  Well one would think.

We also read in Matthew 6:19-21:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Ok wow that’s deep right there. The Lord is telling us to not store up our treasures here on earth where moths and rust can destroy. How many of us live for the now and are guilty of this? You see, we are supposed to be storing up our treasures in heaven and believe you me that when the Lord says to store them in heaven, He has a very large storage facility with our name on it and He will reward us as He promises. Well, you might say, how do I store up treasures in heaven Pastor Mark? Let me explain. Turn with me to Luke 6:27-36:

27 Jesus then said, ‘I say this to you who are listening carefully to me: Love the people who want to hurt you. Do good things to people that hate you. 28 Say good things to people that say bad things against you. Pray for people who give you pain.

29 Someone may slap you on one side of your face. Then you should let him slap the other side of your face too. Someone may take away your coat. If he does, do not stop him from taking your shirt too. 30 When anyone asks you for something, give it to him. Someone may take something that belongs to you. If he does, let him keep it. Do not ask to have it back again. 31 Do the good things for other people that you would want them to do for you.

32 Do you only love people who love you? God will not praise you just for doing that! Even bad people love those people who love them. 33 Do you only do good things to people that do good things to you? God will not praise you just for doing that! Even bad people do the same thing. 34 Do you lend things only to people that will give your things back to you? God will not praise you for doing that! Even bad people lend things to other people when they believe that they will get them back again. 35 No! I am telling you to love people that want to hurt you. Do good things to them. Lend things to people even though you may not receive your things back again. Then God will prepare good things for you. He is kind even to people who do not say “thank you”. He is kind even to very bad people. If you live like this, you will show that you really are children of the powerful God who is over all. 36 You should be kind to other people, as God your Father is kind.

And inMatthew 5:44:

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

James 1:27 says:

 “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

You see storing up treasures in heaven starts with our heart.  It’s changing from the inside out, changing who we are and learning to identify who Christ says we are.  Jesus says that we are to be new creations in Him and striving to be more like Him through the renewing of our minds.  That is how we are to do the good will of God by renewing who we are.  Love is the key to storing treasures in heaven because love will allow us to forgive, it will allow us to be generous, it will allow us to deny our own desires, and become heavenly minded as Paul says in Colossians 3:1-4:

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. ² Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. ³ For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

You see the 1 inch of red tape is our time to spread the gospel, to fulfill the Great Commission.  If we are concerned about the worldly life, we will miss the true purpose for us.  The world and its ways are Satan’s path and we as Christians have to stay in the battle and fight in this spiritual warfare.  What good are we to God if we have our minds on those things the world has to offer?  Isn’t saving souls more important than any other thing or task we could have?  It’s a balancing act; our life, our family, and our ministry, but it’s the will of God that should outweigh all of it.  So, I ask you today to grab some binoculars and look ahead down the rope past the red tape and realize there is hope and a future waiting.  Break free from the grasp of the world and jump full steam into your calling.  God made us to be so much more than a prisoner in the big red 1 inch.