Live It UP! Countdown Blog #3

Matthew 6:

Matt 6: 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

   This is the "UP" in Live it UP... I purposefully capitalize the U and P, to differentiate between the physical direction and the spiritual direction we should be heading in. The Lord explains to us, that everything on the earth, including you and I and even the earth itself is temporary. Everything that we have received new either has or will deteriorate, diminish or pass on. If God had nothing for us after this life, then this life would be equivalent to one huge, cruel joke. Everything we love on earth we are destined to lose. Every person, every car, every jewel... everything we can lay eyes on! We need to remember that because it holds monumental significance. It changes the way we interact with every person, every time. It causes us to hold each moment in high regard, as a blessing, whether we have a relationship with God or not. It is a bittersweet knowledge to possess alone however. When we fully grasp that there is counter-life happening to each and every natural object in existence, and time is not a friend, the knowledge of the Most High through Jesus, makes even more sense. Even Jesus submitted to the "way of the world", but showed his dominance in that He overruled it, not being able to be held by the temporary, being eternal (Acts 2:23, 24). 

   A lot of Christians don't understand when we say we look to Christ in our toughest situations. Some think this means we pray for His assistance, but that is only the surface. I look to Him in His words, in His actions, in His attitudes. Jesus amazed people with replies He gave to questions, He taught in parables knowing the link of truth between all of our earthly situations, He kept silence at times we would have fought our case with many words. Jesus wanted us to know that a relationship with the Father and with Him made everything different than we would naturally think. We look to Christ and focus on Him to overcome ourselves! Overcome our knowledge, our feelings, our tendencies, our enemies... He tells us to be of good cheer because HE overcame the world, not that we would. Christ  is the factor that makes Christians different!

So as the text directs we store up treasures in heaven, because our heart is there. And to take it further, because He is there, with all power and authority under Him. 

This is why we Live it UP! It's not about ballin' or smiling all the time... It's about faithfulness and integrity in the struggle to get through this foreign land as an ambassador of Christ. It's about remembering we have a home we are going to and a great Love there. It's about delighting ourselves in His presence, as if we were prisoners receiving a visit from a loved one, and holding that close because He is never going to leave! 

So I don't know what you are facing as a child of God... but I know you are facing something. While you face it, face God and know that He knows you, He loves you and He is directing you.... Home!

Live It UP!