For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy. (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20)
“You can’t take anything with you.” Have heard that old saying? It’s good advice. We focus so much time and energy on things that don’t truly matter, because we can’t take them with us in the end. Sports, cars, vacations, accomplishments, money… You can’t take anything with you!
Except, that’s not entirely true. There is one thing that you can take with you from this life into heaven. Know what it is? People. Houses stay behind. Achievements are forgotten. Money won’t do you any good. But there is one thing you can take with you: People. Everyone who believes in Jesus has eternal life. We’ll get to stand together with other Christians in the presence of our Lord Jesus.
Because the one thing you can take with you to heaven is people. Paul understood that. Listen to how he talked about the Christians in Thessalonica: “What is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.”
Paul had a gift for making friends. Everywhere he traveled as a missionary, he formed friendships with the people whom he told about Jesus. Those Christian relationships are what Paul treasured more than anything else. He poured his time and energy into meeting with people and caring for people and serving with people and sharing the gospel with people, because he understood that the one thing he could take with him into heaven were his brothers and sisters in Christ.
Doesn’t that impact what you focus your time and energy on? May God forgive us for all the attention we foolishly pour into things that don’t last. Instead, may God open our eyes to see how we can pour ourselves into other people, talking with them and caring for them and sharing the gospel with them. Whom can you encourage today? Whom can you care for today? May the people God has placed in our lives be our glory and joy before God when Jesus comes again.
Because there’s one thing you can take with you into heaven: People.
Dear Lord Jesus, when you come again, it would be foolish for me to stand before you with cars or money. Instead, may my brothers and sisters in faith be my glory and joy before you. Amen.
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