There are many things that people believe in: people believe in money, power, guns, lies, property, and many many other things. People like to believe in things that give them power, but they don’t realize that God is the one who gives the power. Most people believe that money in the bank is their greatest security. But the Bible tells us something different.
“A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” – Luke 12:16-21
“Markaasuu masaal kula hadlay oo ku yidhi, Nin hodan ah dhulkiisa ayaa wax badan bixiyey. Kolkaasuu isla tashaday isagoo leh, Maxaan sameeyaa, waayo, ma haysto meel aan ku ururiyo wixii ii baxay? Markaasuu yidhi, Sidan ayaan samayn doonaa. Maqsinnadaydii ayaan dumin doonaa oo kuwa ka waaweyn ayaan dhisan doonaa; halkaasna ayaan ku urursan doonaa sarreenkayga iyo alaabtayda oo dhan, oo waxaan naftayda ku odhan doonaa, Nafay, waxaad leedahay alaab badan oo sannado badan loo dhigay. Naso oo wax cun oo cab oo farax. Laakiin Ilaah wuxuu ku yidhi, Kaaga doqonka ahow, caawa naftaada waa lagu weyddiisan doonaa, wixii aad diyaarsatayna yaa lahaan doonaa? Sidaas oo kale weeye kan maal urursada oo aan Ilaah u hodan ahayn.” – Luukos 12:16-21
Money cannot buy security because your soul is in the hands of God. You could have all the money in the world and still lose your soul. It would be better to be poor and have God as your friend than to be the richest man in the world and be God’s enemy.
Here are wise words we should all live by if we want to have peace with God and enter heaven one day:
“Why should I fear when trouble comes,
when enemies surround me?
They trust in their wealth
and boast of great riches.
Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death
by paying a ransom to God.
Redemption does not come so easily,
for no one can ever pay enough
to live forever
and never see the grave.” – Psalm 49:5-9
“Haddaba bal maxaan u cabsanayaa wakhtiga shar jiro,
Markii xumaanu cedhbahayga ku wareegsanto?
Kuwa maalkooda isku halleeya,
Oo ku faana hodantinimadooda faraha badan,
Midkoodna walaalkiis ma furan karo,
Daraaddiisna Ilaah madaxfurasho uma siin karo,
(Waayo, furashada naftoodu waa qaali aad iyo aad,
Kumana filna weligeedba,)
Inuu isagu weligiis sii noolaado,
Oo aanu halligaad arkin weligiis.” – Sabuurradii 49:5-9
Someone can have all the money in the world but that is not enough to buy your way into heaven. You can fight and buy your way into being the President of a country but you cannot buy your way into being the lowest servant in the Kingdom of Heaven. Money cannot buy eternity; money cannot buy heaven; only the blood of Jesus can wash away your sin.
Here is a story about a young man from the Sudan who refused to convert to Islam and paid a high price for following Jesus Christ: this young man was almost killed because of his faith in Jesus.
It happened in the country of Sudan in the year 1996. This young man’s name was Philip. He was kidnapped and brought to a place to be tortured. There were 35 other Christians who were in the prison with him and they were all being told to become Muslims.
Many of those imprisoned died because of the brutality: but Philip survived. The guards used to burn his chest with a log from the fire and demand that he become a Christian. But Philip said that God strengthened his faith during that time of torture even when they were burning him. Philip was praying to God during those terrible times asking God to stay with him. Philip refused to become a Muslim because he knew that God was with him.
So do not think that if you believe in the power of your guns that you will go to heaven. Do not think that if you have 10 million dollars in the bank your life will be peaceful and you will receive eternal life. Do not think that just because you are rich you will be accepted into heaven. Only the poor in heart and spirit are accepted by God: God rejects the proud and the arrogant of this world but he accepts the humble and poor in spirit.
Many people in the Bible did not believe in God: they believed in statues or idols, or they prayed to the stars, sun and moon. But none of these things have power to give you eternal life. None of these things have ears that would let them hear your prayers; none of these things have mouths that allow them to speak. And yet, foolish people pray to statues made out of wood and stones that will never be able to help them.
“Our God is in the heavens,
and he does as he wishes.
Their idols are merely things of silver and gold,
shaped by human hands.
They have mouths but cannot speak,
and eyes but cannot see.
They have ears but cannot hear,
and noses but cannot smell.
They have hands but cannot feel,
and feet but cannot walk,
and throats but cannot make a sound.” – Psalm 115:3-7
“Laakiinse Ilaahayagu samooyinkuu ku jiraa,
Oo wax alla wixii uu doonayayna wuu sameeyey.
Sanamyadoodu waa lacag iyo dahab,
Oo waa wax dad gacmaha ku sameeyey.
Waxay leeyihiin af, laakiinse ma hadlaan,
Indhona way leeyihiin, laakiinse waxba ma arkaan,
Dhegona way leeyihiin, laakiinse waxba ma maqlaan,
Sanna way leeyihiin, laakiinse waxba ma urshaan,
Gacmo way leeyihiin, laakiinse waxba ma qabtaan,
Cagona way leeyihiin, laakiinse ma socdaan,
Oo hungurigoodana hadal kama soo saaraan.” – Sabuurradii 115:3-7
We should not worship anything else except God. We should not worship anything that has been made by human hands. God is Spirit and those who love God should worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Jesus Christ is the Light of the world and if you do not have Jesus Christ in your life then you are walking in darkness. If you want to walk in the light then you need to have Jesus Christ in your heart and life; you need to ask Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sins and He will give you eternal life. He will give you a new spirit and a new heart and you will be able to live a godly and holy life – the kind of life that God wants you to live.
“Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.” – Luke 17:20-21
“Boqortooyada Ilaah dhawrid ku iman mayso. Lamana odhan doono, Waa tan! ama, Waa taas! waayo, bal eega, boqortooyada Ilaah waa idinku dhex jirtaa.” – Luukos 17:20-21
If you are sitting there looking around to try and find the kingdom of heaven around you – maybe over a hill or somewhere in the distance you are looking in the wrong direction. If you want to find the Kingdom of Heaven then you need to look at Jesus Christ because the Kingdom of Heaven in inside of Him: Jesus Christ is the Kingdom of Heaven and if you have Jesus Christ in your life then you have the Kingdom of Heaven inside of you
Let us pray….Lord Jesus Christ you are the rock upon which I can place my feet and find security and peace. In you Lord I find eternal life and the forgiveness of sins. You have given me more than I could ever dream or imagine. I pray O God that you would open the eyes of those who are seeking your face and seeking to find the truth. Let them find the truth in the face of Jesus Christ. Amen.