This world is like a dark castle shrouded in shadow. There are pleasantries inside, but also pains. So many live for this castle, when there are mansions in heaven, “in my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2 KJV). People cling to their families, dynasties, and possessions, when Jesus promises if you lose any of them for His sake, you gain a hundredfold, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands (property) for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life,” (Mathew 19:29), Mark adds, “along with persecutions--and in the age to come eternal life.” (Mark 10:30).
I watch as people build their castles of sand and believe their materials are rock and mortar. They feel like kings of their lives, until the reaper. Then their treasure holds and all their accomplishments lose their luster and have no relevance; as they pass to the hereafter their stocks, priceless pieces of art, and exclusive memberships mean nothing. Death is a great sobering force God uses to wake up those who are building their castles. Christ beckons to all, “believe in me,” and “you shall have eternal life!” This voice the masses drown outlt with their amusements and addictions; but at death’s door, and facing the One who holds the keys (Revelation 1:18), they are unable to totally ignore His whisper.
We spend a lot of our lives accumulating possessions, and yet they will pass to others or be melted down. Henry David Thoreau once quipped, “possessions possess you, a farmer who owns a cow is obligates to serve the cow by waking up, feeding it and milking it. The cow owns the farmer” (Walden). How true, Thoreau would have enjoyed the Apostle John who said, “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world” (1 John 2:16 NLT). While it is not a sin to have possessions, priding ourselves in them and accumulating them while neglecting the Kingdom of Heaven is detrimental to our spiritual & eternal life, and a waste of our precious time.
The Kingdom of this world is going to pass away in flames, “By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2 Peter 3:7-18). No fire insurance will protect your heirlooms and possessions. Only Jesus’ blood and Himself will protect you from the consuming fire that is coming soon. Why waste your precious days on a world destined for fire? Instead build your life on the Rock of Jesus Christ and make Him your greatest love. Cease castle building and await the mansion Christ had built for each Christian Believer! Amen.
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