Laying the Treasures of Heaven in our Hearts
“A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” (Matthew 12v35).
“Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe [which is] instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man [that is] an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure [things] new and old.....Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe [which is] instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man [that is] an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure [things] new and old. (Matthew 13 v 44,52)”
“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.”
In the scriptures quoted above there is an exhortation, and warning about the danger of laying up treasures on earth. We also found that where our treasure is there is our heart. And also we found that we can lay treasures in heaven and we can bring out from our heart, what we lay in heaven. Another way of saying it is the kingdom of heaven is built in the heart; and heaven is in the heart when the good treasures are in the heart. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” “And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:” (Ephesians 2v6)
Of course these scriptures are not talking about laying natural treasures, for who can lay natural treasures in heaven? When the Lord told the young rich man to forsake all and follow Him so that He will gain treasures in heaven, He was not talking about dying and going to heaven to receives treasures but gaining and partaking the unsearchable treasures of the kingdom which the Law could never give him as He follows Him.” Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.” (Luke 14v22).
Those in Christ do not go to heaven, they are already in heaven, likewise sinners don’t go to hell they are already in hell it is only the parting away of the body in death that brings the differences. And also in the body we can gain or lose salvation while outside the body we cannot gain or lose salvation. When the body departs we are still where we are. We do not gain in heaven when we die more than what we gain while living .it is true our consciousness of the beauty and joy of eternal Life increases with a higher magnitude, but we are still where we were while living. In fact we could have gain the same joy even now, but many times we are being distracted because of the senses of the body, when we lost focus of a restful walk in Christ.
Our reward in heaven, may be moderate, big, great it depend on how much of those heavenly treasures are in our hearts now. The reward is gain now but only in the heaven of our hearts. It is hidden within, and reveal without in times of trials and also spiritual ministry. No shortcut or compromised; everyman is rewarded according to the things done while in His body, not outside the body. The brightness of our glory will not be more than what is worked out while in the body. It is what we have now what will be revealed before all the holy angels and saints of all ages when we depart from the body and even while in the body. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.” (2Corin.5v10).
Laying Treasures on Earth
The kingdom of this world controls the natural mind, and the natural mind is earthly. The heart which has not the treasure of heaven, which is the word, is earthly, and its passion is on the desires of the natural mind. Christ the Word is in heaven, and when the word Lives in the heart, the hearts is in heaven and brings forth heavenly fruits or treasures. Revelation is given in the heart, not the natural mind, and the illuminated heart gives to the mind what it receives from heaven, which becomes the mind of Christ in us. This is the only way we partake in the mind of Christ , our senses are still alive as related to natural things which can be naturally discern, but must cease working when things are spiritually , hidden and beyond natural judgment . Every heavenly treasure we laid up by the natural mind with his talents will be corrupted, broken and stolen by the adversity in the heat of trial , temptations and afflictions. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal “ .
We have the scriptures as heavenly treasures on earth , which are on earth to brings us into heaven because they will be broken , corrupted and stolen by the enemy when we try to build them or lay them on earth. There is no way the scriptures can brings us to heaven until they are laid in our hearts not our mind .Because the hearts is always where the treasure is as saith the scriptures .If we want to be in heaven, all the work must be in the heart . The natural mind can never take us to heaven and there is no salvation their. The scriptures on earth or natural minds remain dead letters but when they are planted in the heart they are living. The scriptures are not planted in the heart by memorizing, studying , knowing good doctrines all this can be helpful but until Christ the Living word abide in the heart through revelation or spiritual illuminations not even a tiny iota of the treasures of heaven will be planted their.
Laying Treasures in Heaven
Speaking from experience through failure, there was a time the holy spirit spoke from my heart , in a time of confusion , and perplexity saying “ The word needs to be planted in your heart “ . This brought so much confusion in me because it sounds so elementary. I did not expect to receive such an answer from the Lord as the solution of my problem and restlessness. I taught the word was planted in me because I have knowledge of the scripture plus I know the power that saves and deliver. Like the Laodicea Church, I taught I was in need of nothing as long as the issue was about planting the word. Sorry to say but I was doubting the Lord, because I taught my issue was greater and had no relation with that.
I later came to understand that the Lord was not teaching me a knew thing by the meaning of the message, but a knew thing by the message becoming part of my being. Walking by Faith this moment, and another moment walking by sight will keep us in circles of rest and restlessness. The Lord knew this was my experience, and He was calling me out of it having encompassed the foot of the mountain for so long.
Sometimes even the Sons of God who know what it mean to walk by faith, rest, and a surrendered Life can be tempted to think the problem to their failure, in times of afflictions and trials is because of what they faced in daily lives. Like “ look what am going through , all this pain who will go through this and will not complain, worry or lose heart etc ?“ . But the Lord keeps saying :
“there is a place where the thief cannot break, corrupt and steal, you have leaved this place of rest. Have you forgotten the parables of the sower . When you are in worries or cares instead of resting in me the enemy will immediately used that to steal the word I planted in your heart though you might still have it in your head. You have return to lay the treasures on earth , I cannot give you rest on earth because my kingdom is a heavenly kingdom and it must reign on your heart not your head. You cannot live in worries, cares, unforgiveness, bitterness etc and still live in the spirit because it is against the commandment of my word; and you cannot break the commandment of my word and still be in the spirit, because my word and spirit are one”. Amen.