Once, I was speaking at a meeting near San Francisco. As usual, at the end, I gave the audience the opportunity to ask questions. One woman said, “How can I give up the strong desire I have for materialism?” We all ask similar questions. Remember the parable Jesus told about the man who sold everything in order to buy the “pearl of great price” (Matthew 13:46)? Before he could give up all he had, the man had to see the value of this pearl. In this action we find no grumbling, mumbling, pain or self-pity. It was all joy.
Living for Something Better
“By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27, emphasis mine).
Fix Your Eyes on Eternity
Now, look around you. What do you see? Home, cars, clothes, businesses, antiques, jewelry? Go ahead and make a list of everything you have. None of these things will last. Soon it will all be gone. As Saint Peter writes,“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (2 Peter 3:10-11).So, what must we do? We must see eternity. We also must look closely and see where our hearts are. Do we see any of the world’s riches or other material things around the throne of God in eternity? No. But we do see multitudes—men and women that no man can number (see Revelation 7:9). This is the “pearl of great price.” Let the Holy Spirit show you how to live so that you too can truly be called a child of Abraham. Ask the Lord to help you live like Moses and the host of others who have gone before us in the faith. Remember, people from every nation and kindred are still waiting to find out how they can approach the throne of God. You and I must see that vision of eternity and live our lives accordingly. Jesus died for us that we may live. Let us live for others that they too may hear that He died for them. All inconveniences and sacrifices—”light afflictions,” as the Apostle Paul would say—are nothing compared to what we shall be:
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Dr. KP Yohannan, founder and director of Gospel for Asia, has written more than 200 books, including Revolution in World Missions, an international bestseller with more than 4 million copies in print. He and his wife, Gisela, have two grown children, Daniel and Sarah, who both serve the Lord with their families. Gospel for Asia (GFA) has been serving the “least of these” in Asia since its beginning in 1979, often in places where no one else is serving. Gospel for Asia supports national workers who are serving as the hands and feet of Christ by ministering to people’s needs so they can understand the love of God for them for the first time. GFA is engaged in dozens of projects, such as caring for poor children, slum dwellers and widows and orphans; providing clean water by funding wells; supporting medical missions; and meeting the needs of those in leprosy colonies. Through GFA’s Bridge of Hope Program, tens of thousands of children are being rescued from the generational curses of poverty and hopelessness.
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