Momentum (Christ – centred, Spirit – empowered, Mission – focused)
Dave Hearn, President of the C&MA Canada
Most people do not fear change; they fear loss.
We saw this up close and personal as we prepared to move my mom from her home in Abbotsford, British Columbia to our home in Georgetown, Ontario.
Letting go of the desk that my dad had built for her, giving away the piano that her father had sacrificed to give her, and saying goodbye to the condo that had been home for the past twelve years were all difficult experiences.
The most challenging thing has been whittling down all of my mom’s life possessions into just two duffle bags.
This reduction is a stark reminder that the things of this world, although important, are not eternal.
Chuck Swindoll puts it bluntly: “I’ve never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul.”
Loss is a part of life, yet for the believer, the gains far outweigh the losses.
We let go of the temporal so we can embrace the eternal, the lasting, and the imperishable.
Jesus told us to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20).
He linked this command to the desire of our hearts:
“WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO” (Matthew 6:21).
Mom talks a lot about Heaven these days, and I know why. Her greatest treasures are waiting for her there.
Every sacrifice she made for Jesus, every time she shared her faith, and the countless hours she’s spent on her knees, praying for lost, needy, and struggling people have not gone unnoticed.
Paul encourages believers to recognize that God has an eternal reward for those who are motivated to serve Christ: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).
When we live sacrificially for Jesus’ sake or serve Him by serving the body of Christ, we store up treasure in Heaven.
Even seemingly small acts of service are applauded by God. The treasures that await the child of God will far outweigh any trouble, inconvenience, or persecution we may face.
We can serve the Lord with all our heart, knowing that God is the One keeping score.
One day, my mom will complete her earthly journey. She will breathe her last breath and will be ushered into the very presence of Jesus.
I can envision Jesus saying to my mom, “You can leave those two duffle bags behind; let me show you your mansion. Well done, Joyce…enter into your reward!”
“We are called the lights of the world… We should be giving light all the time to our neighbours” (A.B. Simpson).
Please find the original version in C&MA website