Vain Professors
193
Eternal Riches Slighted
The Lord looks with pity on those who allow themselves to be
burdened with household cares and business perplexities. They are
cumbered with much serving, and neglect the one thing essential.
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness,” the Saviour
says; “and all these things shall be added unto you.” That is, Look away
from this world to the eternal. Put forth your most earnest endeavors
to obtain those things upon which God places value, and which Christ
gave His precious life that you might secure. His sacrifice has thrown
open wide to you the gates of heavenly commerce. Lay up your
treasure beside the throne of God, by doing with His entrusted capital
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the work that He desires done in the winning of souls to a knowledge
of the truth. This will secure you eternal riches....
When we think of the great gift of heaven for the redemption of
a sinful world, and then consider the offerings that we can make,
we shrink from drawing a comparison. The demands that might be
made upon a whole universe could not compare with that one gift.
Immeasurable love was expressed when One equal with the Father
came to pay the price for the souls of men, and bring to them eternal
life. Shall those who profess the name of Christ see no attraction in
the world’s Redeemer, be indifferent to the possession of truth and
righteousness, and turn from the heavenly treasure to the earthly?
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were
evil. But everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to
the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth
cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are
wrought in God.”
This gospel message is one of the most precious passages in the
New Testament. When it is accepted, it yields in the lives of the
receiver good deeds whose value is far above that of diamonds and
gold. It has power to bring gladness and consolation into the earthly
life, and to bestow eternal life upon the believer. O that we might have
our understanding so enlightened by grace that we could take in its
full meaning! The Father is saying to us, I will bestow upon you a
treasure more precious than any earthly possession, a treasure that will