I have been thinking about Heaven much more since I wrote a book about it last year. That experience really helped me gain an eternal perspective on life. I still slip into short term thinking quite often, but I am getting better about thinking about the eternal impacts of my daily choices. Thinking about the treasure of Heaven really helps when I am having “one of those days.” So, this shopping season I have been reflecting on the differences between the gifts we give one another and the gifts God gives to us.
The most basic of the gifts God gave us is creation itself; without which we of course would not be around to appreciate anything God has to offer. But more than that, He went far beyond what was required to keep us alive on this planet when He created the universe. He created a vast cosmos which boggles our minds and which we can admire. He created this earth with such beauty and majesty when he could have created everything in shades of gray. We would have been perfectly functional if gray were all we could see. We might have had shape-lights instead of red-lights but we would have managed just fine. However, He wanted us to enjoy His creation and so He gave us the gift of seeing the beautiful colors which He created. With this gift we can admire the stunning colors of a butterfly, the incredible shades of red and pink in the sunset, and the thousands of different types of flowers. God went way beyond what we needed in the gift of creation.
No list of gifts from God would be complete without listing the gift of Jesus. We in no way deserved for the Son of God to die to solve our problems, but He wanted to do it. Even though this was something extremely hard to do, it brought Him joy to give this gift to us: “who for the joy set before him endured the cross.” (Heb 12:2 NIV) Yes, the gift of salvation cost Jesus dearly, but He gladly paid that price to give it to us. Jesus’ sacrifice could have made it possible for us to be with God as his slaves or servants and that would have still been a great blessing. But, God went far beyond what we needed with this gift and actually adopts us as His children and makes us co-heirs with Christ. (Gal 4:7, Rom 8:17) Once again He gave us much more than what we needed.
There are many other blessings and gifts which God gives to us. I could not possibly list them all, but I do want to help us focus on the gift, or the prize, for which we are all striving as Christians. We need to constantly keep in the forefront of our minds the eternal gift of Heaven which God is preparing for us. No amount of mega-television sets, tablets, iPhones, or whatever can compare to what awaits each of us. We may think we are going way beyond what is needed in a gift we give to someone. But, no matter how extravagant the gift, the happiness it brings will fade with time. “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36) God is the only one who can truly meet our needs and even exceed them.
I am not saying we should not give gifts to each other (wife, did you catch that?). I am merely saying we need to keep the gifts we give in perspective and give them for the same reasons God gives us gifts. God’s gifts are all to enable us to have a relationship with Him and to help others do the same. When we give a gift we should not expect the gift itself to work some miracle. But, we should be focusing on how that gift will affect our relationship with the person we are giving it to. The enjoyment of the gift will fade, but that relationship can last for all eternity.
While we are out fighting the crowds or online at home looking for that great deal on the perfect gift, we have to remember we cannot ever buy a perfect gift. God is the only one who can give those. It is good for us to give gifts to each other to show we care for each other. However, we can only give things which may give temporary happiness. That happiness will fade. Only God can give gifts which give joy and happiness for all eternity. Thank you God for this beautiful creation, the undeserved gift of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, and the other blessings we have in this life. But, most of all, thank you for the gift of Heaven which you have planned for us.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)
