“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moths and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moths nor rust corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6:19-20).

Thieves (Gr) Kleptes: Literally thieves

Our Lord speaks to us of an impregnable place of security where there is no possibility of corruption or moth-eaten destruction of the social fabric of life. He speaks of a stable place where there is no moral breakdown of societal norms, no interruption to the joy and bliss of every soul dwelling in the Paradise of God. Every treasure is safe, every dwelling secure, every being perfect in the Presence of the Eternal, loving Father of Light and Glory.

The thought of investing into and laying up to this wonderful company of saints and angels would on the surface seem like something everyone would embrace and pursue vigorously. “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” would seem to be a slogan on everyone’s lips and embraced with fervor and passion. But, alas, such is not the case at all.

To our great dismay and in quite the opposite station we find ourselves in a world of hackers, scammers and malware planters; with viruses of all types; a world of impostors, con artists and “wolves in sheep clothing”. It is difficult to imagine trusting anyone without an endorsement from a faithful friend. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth” would appear to be the wisest of sayings in a chaotic world gone mad. The insanity of it all boggles the mind.

“Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15), the Commandment of Elohim is most relevant today, even as it was under Moses. You shall not be a thief. You shall not deceive, or take what is rightfully the possession of another, you shall not carry away for yourself what you have not received in honor, virtue, and righteousness by paying the just price, received by inheritance or by gift. To do otherwise is to be aligned with the world of darkness and the Evil One and all his minions everywhere.

Jesus addressed the issue of entrance into the heavenly kingdom, identifying Himself as “the Door of the sheep” (John 10:7b). Saying further, “All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them” (John 10:8). The false teachers and false prophets before the time of Christ were condemned as thieves and robbers who stole the truth of the Word of God from the people and practiced deceit. Jesus says, “I am the Door. By Me if any man enters in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes not but to steal and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have Life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:9-10).

There is a place where thieves cannot steal. Amidst all the chaos in the world, there is a safe place, a secure place, a heavenly place in the heart of the Beloved Son. In Him is no lie. He is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” and no one comes to the Father except through Him (cf. John 14:6).

Are you a thief? There is hope for you still. One of your own kind was there at Calvary, Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, at the Crucifixion of our Lord. This thief repented of his evil deeds and spoke to Jesus concerning His Lordship. The thief simply said, “Lord, remember me when you come into Thy Kingdom” (Luke 23:42). Jesus received his faith and confession and replied, “Verily I say unto you, ‘Today shall you be with Me in Paradise'” (Luke 23:43). The wonder of salvation for the lost sinner turned saint. The ex-thief now to steal no more, now to be entrusted with the riches of Paradise. Only God could do such a marvelous work of grace.

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