Spiritual Wealth

Last week, I talked about the importance of investing in wealth-building businesses over pursuing momentary profits. If I’ve been successful at my stock investments such that my portfolio reflects more wealth, it can bring a certain sense of security, financially speaking. One need only consider several years back during the recession-beaten stock market of 2008 and 2009 to see how tenuous material possessions are, though, and that they cannot provide lasting peace.

So, it’s one thing to “feel” secure in my ability to get what is needed for the moment by having enough in the bank account to cover the cost. We all want to be able to provide for our families and to extend a helping hand to others; and doing so is good. Yet it’s another thing altogether to know true peace, the kind of peace that brings a definite sense of security regardless of what the financial markets do next or what we have in the way of earthly possessions. I believe we all have a much deeper need to know that we are secure for not just the here and now, but forever. Money simply can’t bring us genuine peace and eternal security, and God surely does not intend for us to look at money as our real source of security and peace.

A few weeks ago, a guest speaker came to our local church and God used this speaker to teach me a simple and profound truth. Did you know that the Word of God tells us in Genesis 1: 1-5 that God introduced “light” on the first day of creation? Also, did you know that God did not create the sun until the fourth day (see Genesis 1: 14-19)? Further, consider what the apostle John says in the New Testament in the gospel of John, chapter 1: 1-14. John explains that, in the beginning, Jesus was the Creator and that He is the light of the world.

Until hearing this speaker, I guess I had never paid close enough attention to carefully note that when God, in the beginning, said “Let there be light” in Genesis 1:3, He is referring to Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. It was the “Son” (of God) that brought light to the world, not the “sun.”

Today, in this post, I share the most important truth I know and the best news on the planet. God had you and me in mind from day one. The plan to send Jesus Christ into the world to rescue us and secure eternity was His design from the very beginning when the declaration “Let there be light” was made by God.

I believe it is wise to behave “wisely” in this world because I don’t believe this world is all there is. If I believed this world is the end of the line, I surely would struggle to find any real meaning to my life and would probably surrender to an “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die” manner of living. The stock market would only be about making more money in order to derive more and more momentary pleasure.

An unpopular term today is “sin.” I’ve observed it is not used today nearly as often as I heard it growing up. I don’t guess it makes any of us feel real comfortable, nor should it. Yet, it is something that occurs every time a person trusts in self over God. I don’t know about you, but I readily admit that sin is something I struggle with each day as the battle against pursuing selfish desire is intense and regular.

So, where can spiritual (forever) wealth be found and how can I be sure of possessing it? I need look no further than what the apostle John states in probably the best known Bible verse, John 3:16: “For God so loved the world (includes you and includes me) that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” To believe in Jesus Christ, who came into the world to give Himself up on the cross to achieve my eternal pardon from sin is to gain eternal life. That’s exactly what John 3:16 says; God is assuring the one who believes in Jesus Christ of possessing eternal life! No stock market crash can shake this kind of security. Knowing Jesus Christ is to possess spiritual wealth that cannot be lost.

Yes, having Jesus Christ in my heart gives me the peace I need to live in the here and now, knowing my eternity is secure with God. Also, it makes every facet of living life here on earth meaningful, including investing in stocks because I want to behave responsibly in managing the material possessions entrusted to my care by the Lord.

Allow me to close this week’s post with pictures that leave me speechless in God’s presence. It is my new granddaughter, Sadie Grace Ulmer. Only a marvelous God and Creator could do something so awesome. Looking at her strengthens my faith in Christ, my Creator, Lord and Savior.

Sadie Grace Ulmer