Foreword We are running out of time. For over 150 years, this old planet has been ripe for Christ’s return in the clouds of glory. What should be our focus at this late hour? Surely that better land–the heavenly Canaan–and how to prepare ourselves and others to be there. Our topic of study for this quarter is Treasure in Heaven. In the days of Christ, "there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me" (Mark 10:17–21).Are we laying up treasure in heaven? Or, like the young ruler, may we be outwardly keeping the Ten Commandments while lacking true heart service for the Master? All that God has given us belongs to Him, and we must make provision for this before our probation closes. Yet, "without obedience and unselfish love, the richest offerings are too meager to be presented to the Possessor of all things" (Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 57). It is God’s purpose that His children overcome selfishness and fulfill His plan for the evangelization of the earth. He is now preparing a people to do this work–and it will be done whether or not you and I claim the privilege of being involved. God calls for men to give the warning to the world that is asleep, dead in trespasses and sins. He calls for freewill offerings from those whose hearts are in the work, who have a burden for souls, that they shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Satan is playing the game of life for the souls of men. He is seeking to secure means, that he may bind it up, so that it shall not be used in advancing the missionary enterprises. Shall we be ignorant of his devices? Shall we allow him to stupefy our senses?–Ibid., vol. 6, p. 446.For what shall we hoard up treasures? To be swept away by the flames of the last day? Shall we lay up gold and silver, to be a witness against us in the Judgment–to eat our flesh as it were fire? Shall we cling to our possessions till they fall into the hands of our enemies? The time is coming when commandment keepers can neither buy nor sell. Of what use will houses and lands, bank stock and merchandise, be to us then? Now is the time to place our treasures where they will be eternally secure. . . . That which we give to the cause of God becomes our own forever. Says Christ, ‘Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven’ (Matthew 6:20). These alone, of all that we possess, are really ours. All that we lay up on earth, we must leave at last. It is only what we give for Christ that we can take with us into the eternal world.–The Review and Herald, December 6, 1887. [Author’s italics.]
