by Kevin Burton
The bad news is you can't take it with you. The good news is, you're not gonna need it, not gonna miss it at all.
So don't sweat your present conditions on earth dear Christian, no matter what they are. Your day will come, in fact is already declared, your day in Jesus.
The "name it and claim it" people are doubly wrong. Wrong to esteem earthly possessions so highly, wrong to dismiss the riches we already possess. Riches in Christ that we can't lose, by the way.
"Look at your possessions, believer, and compare your portion with the circumstances of your friends," writes Alistair Begg, speaker on the Truth For Life radio ministry. "Some of them have their portion in the field; they are rich, and their harvests yield them a golden increase; but what are harvests compared with your God, who is the God of harvests? What are bursting granaries compared with Him who feeds you with the bread of heaven?"
"Some have their portion in the city; their wealth is abundant and flows to them in constant streams until they become a very reservoir of gold; but what is gold compared with your God?
"You could not live on it; your spiritual life could not be sustained by it. Could it grant peace to a troubled conscience? Apply it to a sad heart, and see if it could prevent a single groan or minimize one grief.
"But you have God, and in Him you have more than gold or riches could ever buy," Begg writes.
"Christ's riches that He makes available to us are not material but spiritual,' reads a passage on www.gotquestions.org. "The unsearchable riches of Christ provide salvation to everyone who believes (John 3:16, Rom. 1:16). We may be the worst of sinners, yet Jesus can forgive us and transform our lives (Rom. 12:1-2).
"It is the gift that truly keeps on giving, as we are changed, by God's Spirit, into 'loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled' people (Gal. 5;22-23, CEV.)"
The Bible says your riches in Christ are unsearchable.
"The phrase unsearchable riches of Christ comes from Eph. 3: 8-9: "To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things" (ESV). The Greek for "unsearchable riches" is translated "boundless riches" in the NIV" reads the gotquestions passage.
"The Greek word translated 'unsearchable' describes something that cannot be fully comprehended or explored. In other words, there is no limit to the riches of Christ; they are past finding out. Try as we might, we can never plumb the depths of Christ's worth."
"Paul delineates some of these riches in Eph. 1: 7-14: redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, the knowledge of the mystery of His will, the message of truth, the sealing of the Holy Spirit, and the guarantee of our inheritance. These are spiritual riches with eternal benefits, and we cannot fully comprehend them," reads the gotquestions passage.
"Jesus taught two short parables that emphasize the value of eternal life and the kingdom of God," the passage reads. 'The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it' (Matt. 13:44-46). Like a hidden treasure or a pearl of great price, admission to the kingdom is of incalculable worth—and it is Jesus Christ who grants the admission. The unsearchable riches of Christ are on display in every believer's heart."
"Some have their portion in something most men love—applause and fame; but ask yourself, is not your God more to you than that?" Begg writes "Do you think that human accolades or thunderous applause could prepare you to face death or encourage you in the prospect of judgment? No!
"There are sorrows in life that wealth cannot alleviate; and there is the deep need of a dying hour, for which no riches can provide."
"But when you have God for your portion, you have more than everything else put together. In Him every need is met, whether in life or in death," Begg writes.
"With God for your portion you are rich indeed, for He will supply your need, comfort your heart, relieve your grief, guide your steps, walk with you in the dark valley, and then take you home to enjoy Him as your portion forever."
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