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
