According to the Bible, what kinds of things last, and ultimately have eternal value?
There’s no getting around the fact that we all live in a material world. For those of us who live in the United States, it’s easy to become desensitized and fall into the trap of ‘worshiping’ materialism.
Merriam-Webster defines materialism as, "A tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values."
Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves [material] treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also.
While Jesus was teaching using a parable in Mark 4:18-19 He says, “The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. How we actually live (evidenced by the fruit we produce), is more revealing than what we may like to think about how we live.
In Luke 12:13-15 we read in the Parable of the Rich Fool, “Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
Isn’t it interesting that in our culture all too often our lives are measured by how much we own? So it makes sense to be counter-cultural as it relates to the kinds of things that have eternal value.
Isaiah 40:7-8 says, “The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the Lord. And so it is with people. The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”
1 Peter 1:23-24 mirrors what Isaiah proclaimed, “For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say, people are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.”
If it’s true that both God’s word along with people are going to last and live forever … wouldn’t it make sense for us to invest our time, our talents, and our earthly treasure here and now into the things that are going to last for all eternity?!
Judgment day is coming for everyone, and now is the time to determine our eternal outcome. Here’s what Matthew 25:41-46 says about what’s at stake, “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
According to the Bible, there are only two options regarding where every person will go after their life here is over. Please choose your path wisely, as you’re prepping for eternity!