The children settled into their seats and looked expectantly at Mr. Knight. He was going to give a Sunday school lesson, and he had a bag with something in it. They wanted to know what was in that bag because he had called it a treasure. Excitement grew as he began to tell the story about the treasure in his bag.
Mr. Knight said that he had been walking down the street when he noticed a big commotion ahead of him. There were several children up ahead and they were fighting. He rushed up to them to see if he could help out with the problem, because he did not want anyone to get hurt. He found out that they were fighting over an object and no one was giving in. The treasure was what he now had in his bag.
Mr. Knight reached into his bag and pulled out what those children had been fighting over. How surprised everyone was when he pulled out a filthy, dirty, torn up rag! What? Is that a treasure? Could that be what the children were fighting over? Yes, that was what the children were fighting over, but it certainly is not what we would call a treasure!
Children, if you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you have a true treasure in heaven. I think that when we get to heaven, we will look back at a lot of things that seem like treasures now and think that they are like dirty rags. Many children, and adults too, are afraid to let go of things they enjoy on this earth so that they can be saved or follow the Lord Jesus. But, think about heaven. Think about being with the Lord Jesus who loves you so much that He died for you. Think about the perfect happiness that will be there ... there will be no more trouble, sickness, sorrow, or death — only love, joy, peace and perfect happiness. Do you call that a treasure? I do!
How silly that those children were fighting over a dirty, torn up rag. Maybe they were ashamed when they thought about it later. Maybe they went home with some scrapes and bruises and had a hard time explaining to their parents why they fought over a dirty rag. Don’t be like those children.
The Bible tells us to “seek ... first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness,” and all the things we need will be given to us (see Matthew 6:3333But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)). We can let go of a lot of fake treasures in order to have the true treasures that God gives us in His love. “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:2121For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:21)). Is your heart, and your treasure, in heaven, where it will last forever?
Messages of God’s Love 2/18/2024