The Best Investment

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Matthew 6:19–20 RSV

What if I were to tell you that, contrary to popular belief, you can take “it” with you to heaven, depending, of course, on your definition of “it”? Now, of course, you cannot take your money or your house or your car or investments with you to heaven. You wouldn’t need them anyway. But you can send things on ahead so that they will be waiting for you when you arrive.

An old man, a great man of God, lay on his deathbed. He summoned his grandson to come to his side. Calling the boy’s name, he said, “I don’t know what type of work I will be doing in heaven, but if it’s allowed, I am going to ask the Lord Jesus to let me help build your mansion. You be sure you send up plenty of the right materials.”

Living a holy life, leading others to Christ as we share our faith, doing good works in Christ’s name, all of these things are materials that may be sent on ahead and can never be touched by the fluctuations in the earthly economy, by natural disaster, or by thievery.

What kind of materials are you sending up to heaven? What kind of mansion will you live in when the building process has been completed?

Our Father and our God, thank You for preparing a room for me in Your heaven. I know that life with You will be wonderful. Help me to live a holy life, to share my faith in You with others, and to be an example of love and joy to my world. I want them to see Jesus living in me. In His name. Amen.

Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).