MATTHEW 25:22-23: “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’ “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!” NLT

OBSERVATION: As a believer, how do I get ready for heaven? We don’t often think about this because we are so focused on living. To go to heaven means this life will have come to an end, or Jesus has returned. I am so focused on living that I don’t take the time to think about what happens after I die.

This year, my wife and I will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. How could this young couple, aged 20, be facing such a milestone in life? When someone older tells you to enjoy your life because the years will fly by, listen – they know what they are talking about. For our 50th, we want to take a special trip, a trip to remember! We are both of German descent, so we decided to take a trip to Germany.

I have been to Germany once on a business trip. That hardly qualifies me to plan a trip to Germany. So I started doing my research. I reviewed a myriad of travel options, including tours and cruises. I read countless reviews from those who have taken a trip to Germany. I want to be fully prepared for this once-in-a-lifetime trip! It would be foolish to pack our bags and go without the necessary preparation.

Yet, that is what so many do in this life. They live their lives for the moment without any consideration or preparation for the destination of a lifetime – Heaven! I am not talking about non-believers. I am talking about born-again believers! Our life might last for 80 years or more, but what is that when compared to eternity? If heaven will be our forever home, shouldn’t we be prepared before we go?

I have heard so many people say things like – “Oh, won’t it be great to get to heaven where we will worship around the throne forever and ever!” This is a pretty naive view of heaven. God is not preparing us for an eternity of standing before His throne singing. God created Adam and Eve to be productive. He is preparing us to be productive in our eternal life with Him! I don’t know what we will be doing in heaven, but I know it will not be singing for eternity.

Worship is so much more than that!

We worship God when we use the gifts that He has given us! This is the meaning of the parable of the talents. It is not how many talents we receive in this life. It is how we employ them. Are we so busy living our lives that we never use the talent or talents He has given us, thinking, “I’ll get to that someday!” Do we devalue our talents because the scope of our work is less than that of others, so why bother? Or, do we use our lives and talents to bring glory and honor to the Lord?

I was moved to reflect on the man with two talents. He did not neglect them because the other servant had five. He did not gloat because his fellow servant received only one. Rather, he engaged the talents he received for the glory and honor of his master. This is our call in life. It is not to have the biggest house or the most money. The one with the most toys at the end of their lives is not the winner. The one who lives for the glory and honor of the Lord and employs his or her talents for the Kingdom of God is the winner.

This is the one who is prepared to go to heaven!

You may have one talent, two talents, or more. Yet, regardless of what you have received, the call is the same. It is to use your talent(s), your life, and all that God has given you to bring glory and honor to His name and to proclaim the Kingdom of God. This is the only way I can be prepared for heaven. It is the only way I can be assured of hearing these words,

“Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!” Matthew 25:23 NLT

Jesus does not say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant, you are done now, here is your resting place.” No! Jesus says, “You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities!” I don’t know what these responsibilities will be, but I want to be ready! Everything I have worked so hard for in this life will be someone else’s when I die. Only the investment I make in using the talents God has given me to love and serve others will prepare me for heaven!

Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times when I have looked at the gifts and opportunities You have given me and have been tempted to lay them aside because I felt they were insignificant or not needed. Grant me, Your grace, to see every opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ and use the gifts You have given, as both a privilege and Your preparation for my eternal destiny in heaven. Help me, at the end of my life, hear You say…

“Well done, my good and faithful servant…Let’s celebrate together!” Matthew 25:23 NLT

In Jesus’ Name!