Treasures in Heaven

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God. (Revelation 7:9-11 ESV). As I began to think about our secure future in Christ, the picture of heaven came to mind. John, while in exile was given the opportunity to see and describe heaven for us. Our reading today is a part of that description. It is only a small glimpse, but it provides a panorama that brings me great hope. The more I think about what that picture contains, the more I am convinced that the greatest joy will not be had in seeing the angels, but in seeing God and the others I have known and loved who are already there. The older I get, the more I experience the separation of death from those I love. It is a natural part of life. For me, the peace I seek is found in the truth that everyone of these loved ones are like treasure that has been securely deposited for the future. Will Rogers felt something like this when he wrote a foreword to the book, Trails Plowed Under, by his friend Charles Russell, who died before the book was published. In his “Letter to Charley,” Will said in characteristic cowboy language: You know the Big Boss gent sent a hand over and got you so quick, Charley, but I guess He needed a good man pretty bad. I knew they had been a-working shorthanded over there pretty much all the time. I guess it’s hard for Him to get hold of good men; they are just getting scarce everywhere… I bet you hadn’t been up there three days, Charley, until you had out your pencil and was a-drawing something funny. And I bet you that Mark Twain, and old Bill Nye, and Whitcomb Riley, and a whole bunch of those old joshers was just a-waiting for you to pop in with the latest ones. And I bet they are regular fellows when you meet ‘em, ain’t they? Most big men are… When I get to thinking about all them Top Hands up there, if I could just hold a horse wrangling job with ‘em, I wouldn’t mind following that wagon myself. Well, you will run onto my old Dad up there, Charley, for he was a real cowhand, and I bet he is running a wagon; and you’ll pop into some well-kept ranch house, over under cool shady trees, and you’ll be asked to have dinner, and it will be the best one you ever had in your life. Well, when you’re thanking the women folks you just tell the sweet lookin’ little old lady that you knew her boy back on an outfit you used to rope for, and tell the daughters that you knew their brother, and if you see a cute little rascal runnin’ round there with my brand on him, kiss him for me. Well, can’t write any more, Charley, paper’s all wet. It must be raining in this old bunkhouse. Of course, we’re all just hangin’ on here as long as we can. I don’t know why we hate to go, we know it’s better there. From your old friend, Will. Treasures… they are the things we have set aside that are so valuable that we can’t put a price on them. They are the things that await us in heaven. They are the people we have loved and wait for us! While it is good here, it is better there. What a wonderful truth to take us through this day!