An excerpt from “The Heavenly Home; When Shall I Prepare For My Own House Also?” By Pastor Olurinmade Solomon
In chapter two, we learned two important lessons. Firstly, when people become born again on earth, the places where angels will build their houses or mansions are immediately allotted to them in heaven, fulfilling the promise made by Jesus Christ in John 14:1-3. Secondly, the saved persons are responsible for the provisions of the materials to be used for building their houses or mansions in the place allotted for them in heaven. Clearly, Jesus never promised us a home or mansion on a platter of gold; what he promised us was a place in heaven. So now, in this chapter, we shall discuss laying up treasures in heaven as provisions for our heavenly home.
Jesus says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
Jesus also expatiated on what kind of treasures to lay up in heaven represent in his response to the young rich ruler who asked him about how to make heaven.
“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” Matthew 19:21
What then, are the treasures you must lay up in heaven? The WordWeb dictionary defines a treasure as any possession highly valued by its owner. Therefore we, the treasures we are to lay in heaven are not limited to our money. They also include other valuable things, including our time, spiritual gifts, talents, intercessory prayers, evangelism, brotherly kindness, and the labors of love that we invest in God’s vineyard and our community.
Laying up treasures in heaven is investing our resources into God’s Kingdom. Every form of investment involves delayed gratification and self-denial. It is all about sacrificing the moment’s comfort in exchange for future benefits. Laying up treasure in heaven is the type of fasting that is most rewarding and acceptable before God. Let us consider the following scriptures to understand what laying up treasures in heaven is.
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” Isaiah 58:6-7
“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Philippians 2:1-4
“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.” James 2:15-18
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1Corinthians 15:58
“Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;” 1Thessalonians 1:3
“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Hebrews 6:10
Our money (Tithes, offerings, and almsgiving) may represent granites, gravels, sharp sand, or soft sand. Our brotherly kindness may stand for cement, and so on. Suppose you lay up 1,000 trailers load of granites without other materials necessary for building. In that case, you will have no house in heaven. The quality and quantity of the treasures you are laying up for yourselves in heaven will determine the size and quality of your heavenly home. The above fact agrees with several testimonies of different children of God who had been privileged to see visions of heaven.
This book and other books are available for free download on our website: https://themidnightcrier.org/download-books/
Maranatha!
Pastor Olurinmade Solomon