Reality: What if there was an alternate reality that put our reality into perspective? Things that seem powerful and significant in ours may be meaningless in the other; things that seem small and insignificant to us may be magnificent in the other. What if we could catch a glimpse of that alternate reality? Would it change how we live?
Heaven: The apostle John was given a vision of heaven, and a throne was at the center. The living creatures danced around it, singing, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And the people of God—from ancient days to modern times—fell down before it, casting their crowns and saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” [1]
Treasure: What seemed powerful and significant in John’s reality—crowns, monarchies, allegiances—was cast down in the alternate reality. This was not, however, merely an emotional response; it was a rational one, too. When we find something of infinite worth and preeminence, we sell all that we have to obtain it. As Jesus taught, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” [2] This was joy rooted in truth.
Prayer: Lord, May we see you as you are—preeminent, lovely, sovereign, glorious, enthroned—and then live in response to that. It is not mere emotion to love and cherish you; it is driven by logic and reason, too. Therefore, open the eyes of our heart and mind so that you become the most important priority to us in how relate to our money, our voice, our relationships, our work, and our opinions. Let the value and worth of Jesus fill our hearts so that we respond with a wholehearted reorientation of our lives—seeing what he is worth and giving what he is worth. May we relinquish that which does not matter and turn in confidence to that which does. Amen.
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