This is Your Life Goal!

Fresh Manna
By Pastor Tim Burt

Jesus was often teaching His disciples and those that would listen about God, His heart, and the Kingdom of Heaven. He would use stories and parables to paint word pictures to help those that listened understand. In Matthew chapter 25 He was teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven. He started out by talking about foolish and wise virgins who were all waiting for their bridegroom. The wise virgins had oil in their lamps in case he came in the night. They were ready and watching for Him no matter what time he came—in other words, at a time when everyone else was sleeping and not paying attention. The foolish virgins had no oil in their lamp and consequently were unprepared to find their way to meet him.

This story represents those that are putting off living for Jesus now thinking that some day, when they get living life their way out of their system, then they’ll think about “getting God in their life.” It doesn’t work that way because life could end in the next hour or Jesus could come back at any time. Noah preached about the flood for 100 years but no one listened. To them it must have sounded absurd, but the day did come and the only ones that were ready were Noah’s family—the ones that had been preparing for the flood all along.

Jesus then went on to teach them that the Kingdom of Heaven was about being faithful with what God has given each one of us. A master that was going away for a season had given talents to each of his servants. They received different amounts according to their God-given ability to bring increase from them. The story goes on about how some used what their master had given them and brought increase and how one didn’t. He just sat on it and wasted it. His perceived his master as hard, mean, and unfair—someone that expected too much from him—so he did nothing. The outcome for the one that wasted his life and talents wasn’t good. To those that were faithful, they heard these words: “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ (Matthew 25:23)

Many people think Heaven is about golf courses and papaya cocktails in a hammock or Lazyboy rocker. It’s not. We will live new lives in Heaven. We presently live life in a defiled earth with defiled thinking, in defiled bodies. Sin has defiled and ruined the earth and corrupted the life God wanted for man when He created Him in the garden. Jesus redeemed man by dying on the cross, but the gift of what Jesus did – providing salvation and eternal life is a gift that has to be received by every individual personally. Our lives here are to help this good news be shared. Salvation is a gift. Heaven can’t be earned by being good enough. Our lives here are to help the Lord redeem mankind by helping others understand what Jesus did for them and by helping them receive Jesus and His gift of salvation into their heart. We are to use the talents and abilities and resources that God has given us to accomplish this goal. That is our on-going preparation that causes us to be prepared and have oil in our lamps.

When Jesus comes back or we go home to be with the Lord, what we did in this life will establish our starting point in the Lord’s Kingdom. The “Well done they good and faithful servant” will be rewarded and affect our future in this new life. We will live there. We will live out lives in an undefiled atmosphere with Jesus as our King. It will be greater than anything our minds or hearts can begin to imagine.

The practical side of succeeding in our efforts here comes down to this most simple focus and exercise: you are here to represent Jesus and His good news in this earth—that is your focus. Your light that will supernaturally draw others to want to know Him is the fulfillment of this verse: 1 Cor. 10:31 “Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God.”

I woke up with the Lord speaking these words to my heart this morning. “Whatever you do, glorify me through your thoughts words and actions. Then you will succeed! Then you will one day here these words: “Well done thy good and faithful servant—enter into the joy of the Lord.”

I have heard from Heaven. Today and everyday I purpose to glorify God in all my doings!

1 Cor. 10:31 “Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God.”

In His love,
Pastor Tim