Reservation, Please

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 ESV). I receive many stories, most of which are not annotated. So, the following may not be true. However, it is funny and points us in a very important direction. In April 1998, Dr. Terry Winter, a popular television host, was making preparations to fly from his home in Vancouver to Los Angeles, California. Being the careful man that he was, he phoned the hotel at which he would be staying in regards to his reservations. He made certain that he had the right number Information Services had given him and dialed. His phone display indicated the proper number. The connection was made and the receptionist answered. "I wish to confirm my reservations for tomorrow evening," said Dr. Winter. The receptionist burst into huge laughter; she could not contain herself. "Excuse me, ma'am, my reservations for tomorrow evening... please confirm." More laughter. Now Dr. Winter was totally confused and embarrassed. Finally, she regained some composure and said, "Dr. Winter, this is the first time that we have ever confirmed reservations. You see, this is not a hotel. You must have dialed the wrong number. This is the County Jail! All of us can share experiences in dialing wrong numbers or being connected to the wrong party. Dr. Terry Winter shared this story but did he know that this episode had a hint of premonition? In early December, '98, he would die of a brain aneurysm. However, he was confident that his reservations to heaven where intact. For each one of us, there comes a time in our lives that we are appointed to die. It may be soon or many years from now but we do not know when that time will come. Do you know where you will spend eternity? Are you sure that your reservations are confirmed with God? If not, pray and ask Christ to forgive you and give you eternal life. Once you have settled that question, you have choices to make. One of those choices involves how we decide to “spend” out time, talent, and resources. Faith in Christ ought to bring us to an understanding of how to best use what He has gifted us with for the kingdom. Once you have been born again, you have reservations in heaven. Before you “check in,” there are many opportunities to accumulate “treasure.” The kind of treasure that will be waiting for us when we arrive is found in the things we do and say. It is that kindness you have expressed to someone else, or that generosity you have done for another, or some other good work. Loving God must result in loving others. What have you sent ahead to await your arrival in heaven? Make it good treasure!