by A pure river shimmering like a crystal, streets of glistening gold, and a brilliant light so magnificent it warms the soul. The freshest, purest air breathed into the perfect glorified being. Perfection everywhere. Tranquility, comfort, and peace engulf all corners. Pure excellence in all points.
It is near impossible to communicate into words how awesome heaven must be, but the Bible gives us some insight in Revelation 22. Try to imagine for a moment true perfection. Now imagine leaving it. I could not leave; but Jesus did, when he came to earth as the Savior for all mankind.
Many years ago, I enjoyed a children’s Christmas pageant at a church in North Carolina. I have never forgotten how they described Jesus leaving heaven to come to earth. One girl talked about how wonderful heaven was and how wicked earth was, yet Jesus came here anyway. I am so thankful to have the Lord as my Savior; and that he came to earth for me. Occasionally, over the years, I have pondered just what the Lord gave up for me.
Try again to imagine leaving perfection in heaven and coming to this wicked earth. Jesus was here for 33 years. He was mocked, tested, tried, and died a horrible death on the cross. He rose again and still walked on earth for 40 more days before returning to heaven. Extra note, he remained perfect, since he is God. He went through all this for me and all mankind. Now if one was living in perfection, would one leave it? No, I do not think so. I could not leave the perfections of heaven and live on earth for sinful men.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
We have briefly discussed what God gave up for us-his son. Now let’s discuss what we can give up for him to show our appreciation for all he did for us. What can one give up for Jesus? What can we sacrifice? How about money, resources, time, family, or friends?
If someone pulled you out of a burning building, what would you do to thank them?
I would like to encourage us in three areas that we can sacrifice in for the Lord. One may read this and say, “I am already doing that.” My response, “Wonderful, keep doing it and pray if there is more the Lord wants you to do.”
- Money and resources. It is not necessary to spend much time here. It is obvious to give our tithes and offerings to the church; but how about physical, tangible things? When we give something to the Lord, to the church, or to someone else, let’s give our best. God gave his best. We should do the same and give our best.
Mark 12:42 “And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites…”
- Time. Yes, time. We all know we should be doing something for the Lord, but are we actually doing what the Lord has laid on our heart? Here are a few things we can give in our time to the Lord:
- teach or help in a Sunday School class,
- visit nursing homes,
- clean the church,
- go on visitation,
- prepare or serve a fellowship meal,
- plan senior or teen events,
- run or help on a bus ministry, or
- start and run a new ministry in another town,
- etc.
If someone is already busy for the Lord-Great! Keep on staying busy for his service. If someone is not busy for the Lord-get busy and “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
Remember, Jesus left the magnificent glories of heaven for 33 years to walk in this wicked world to give us eternal life. We can at least give some time to say thanks. For example, would it be so bad if dinner was late because someone got saved on visitation?
Matthew 6:20-21 “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
- Family and Friends. Let’s not hold back our families from serving the Lord. Let them go. It is heart-breaking, that over the years, many good men and women have been held back from serving the Lord by family and friends. Stories have been told of how men would not go preach in other states or other countries because their wives would not leave their families. When confronted with the idea that a young lady might meet up with a potential suitor who was a preacher boy, a father actually said, “Oh, she can’t date him. I want her staying near me.” How sad a father would not let his daughter date a preacher boy for fear she might move away.
This is a hard area for people to give up-their family-whether it is a son in the ministry, or their daughter as the preacher’s wife. This is a great gift to give that many are not willing to give. To say this sacrifice is easy would be a 
lie. It is a difficult one, but the eternal rewards are far more than we can understand or comprehend.
Mark 10: 29- 30 “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”
In summary, let’s give:
- Money and resources
- Time
- Our loved ones
If Jesus has saved us from an eternity of burning in hell, what actions are we taking to thank him? What ultimate sacrifice are we willing to make? Remember, God shall give back, “an hundredfold.”
