Keys to the Treasure of Heaven

By Thomas Denegre

For every lock there’s a key.  For every mystery there’s a clue.  In Matthew Chapter 6:19-34 Jesus talks about the treasure from heaven that we should seek and having the clear eyes so our body will be filled with light. I know all of us want the treasure of heaven.  It’s eternal and marvelous.  So how do we acquire this treasure?  What is this treasure Jesus wants to give us? The eyes are the clue to this mystery.

Jesus used the term that bad eyes will make your body full of darkness. I discovered that bad eyes represent the way we value and filter things through our self-professed identity. Our character and virtues are established from our identity; such as being a doctor, lawyer, farmer, mother, teacher, bank robber, or a saint.

After college I entered the U.S. Navy pilot program.  I discovered early on that being a goofy college student was not compatible with being a professional pilot.  I bought a pair of gold wings and put them on a uniform.  I saw myself wearing those wings and then I saw the person behind them.  I saw the character and virtues a pilot needed to be great at his craft.  So, I robe myself with the virtues of being the best navy pilot and became one.  By stepping into my future identity, I was able to change my present self. 

My walk with God was in the same way.  For awhile I was the confused Christian who thought I was still a sinner or the goofy college student.  However, when I assumed my future identity as a saint, disciple and, a son of the Most-High God then I became transformed.  Everything changed.

As Ephesians 2:4-6 puts it: But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…

By knowing I am a son of God, I robed myself with the virtues (Col. 3:12-14) of God that the Holy Spirit gave me, which allows me access to the treasures of heaven. St. Paul aptly wrote;

You are always and dearly loved by God! So, robe yourself with virtues of God, since you have been divinely chosen to be holy. Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others. Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them. For love is supreme and must flow through each of these virtues. Love becomes the mark of true maturity.  Col. 3:12-14 (TPT)

At this point I want to encourage you to embrace your identity as a son or daughter of God.  By knowing and being a son or daughter of the Most-High God, you freely receive the treasure from heaven.  By living in life union with Jesus and having his words living powerfully within you, (John 15:7)  the Holy Spirit will pour his living streams of water to empower and fill you with love, kindness, gentleness, long suffering, patience, peace, and joy.  By knowing and owning these characters of virtue, the treasures of heaven become yours.

The treasure is God’s presence and gifts with you all the time.  He will go through the trials, tribulations, and temptations in life with you.  You will never be alone.  Our Father will bring the love, trust, and security in your life.  By being broken in humility our Father will make you complete and perfect, you’ll be satiated with your sense of purpose and mission.

By investing yourself in the treasure of heaven you obtain real eternal wealth;

When you give

When you forgive

When you encourage and lift others

When you share the gospel

When you love your enemies

When you endure insults and persecutions

When you have mercy and tolerance for those in the family of faith

Chosen

1 Peter 2:4-12

What defines you? What is your identity? Is it your career or what you do such as being a parent a student or an athlete? Is it where you live? Is it some great accomplishment; or something shameful that you did? Is it a physical trait like the shape of your body or how attractive you are?

Whatever it is, one thing is for sure; your identity sets the course of your life. It gives direction to your attitudes, your beliefs, and your decisions.

In Peter’s letter, he wrote to believers that were living in a precarious time. Followers of Christ were being persecuted daily, sometimes at the cost of their lives. Peter speaks to the core of their condition… their identity. Their identity will define them because it will determine how they respond and live their lives of faith.

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. NIV

9-10 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. MSG

These two translations of the same verses give you insights into who you are as a believer; into what, or who defines you.

You have been chosen by God to tell others about the difference that God has made in your life.

You have been chosen not because you are holy, but to be holy through God’s mercy.

You have been chosen to be a part of the people of God; not a lone ranger. You have been chosen because God has a plan and a purpose for your life. You are a child of God, chosen by Him to serve and to love Him. That is your identity. That is what defines you.

Child of God

Read 1 John 2:28-29

Most of my adult life I have found my identity in what I do. Joe Valentino: “Minister of Youth,” “Parks and Recreation Director,” “Assistant City Manager,” “Executive Director for Ministries.” After I got married, I started to learn part of my identity was wrapped up in my relationships: Peggy’s husband, Josh and Tori’s dad. Even as I walked the dog in the neighborhood I was Bernie's or Max’s owner. I have struggled my entire life to live into my identity. Who am I? Jay and Vera’s kid, the owner of the big white house down the street, good teacher or preacher, friend, brother, good cook, leader, etc.

In 1 John 2:29 I began to find my true identity: “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.” I am born of God; I am a Child of God! And in chapter 3 of 1 John we find: “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” My true identity, child of God! And I know He loves me. Join me this year in living into our identity as CHILDREN of GOD!

QUESTIONS:

1. Where do you get your identity? Who do people think you are? Do others see you as “Child of God”?

2. Have you ever just crawled up into Father God’s lap and sat with Him—no agenda just enjoying time with Him? How about today?

PRAYER:

Father God, thank you for choosing me to be Your child. Help me to take some time now just to sit with You, my Father.

Joe Valentino

John 1:1-17

Jesus is God’s Word
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” John begins this book echoing the same words used to begin the Bible. Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning,……”

Jesus was with God in the beginning. He came to this earth not as just a good man, but as the God-Man. The second in the trinity, temporarily disconnected from the other two in order to bring true light and life to us all. “The Word became flesh and dwelled among us.” He was here! “”He was in the world and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.” How could that happen? How could we be so blind as not to see God when he was right here on this earth? So often Jesus revealed His true identity, but was questioned and denied time and time again.

In John 8:23-24 Jesus again reveals his origin. “You are from below, I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world….” The true basis for our Christian faith is not just the moral teachings of Jesus, but Jesus himself. When asked, “Who do you say I am?” will we have the correct answer? In Matthew 16:15 Jesus asked Simon Peter, that question. “Christ, the son of the living God,” was his response. We can memorize those words in case that question comes to us, but what is truly in our hearts will ultimately determine our forever.

Read John 1:1-7 here
Listen to John 1:1-7 here