Pursuing Your Treasure - Part 1

What are you pursuing, friend? The next rung on the corporate ladder? The job or home of your dreams? There is something far more important to be engaged in and we'll talk about it today on The Road to Reality. Our pursuit should be the same as it was for Christ when He walked this earth. Brother K.P. O'Hannon joins us in studio today to discuss the value of knowing Jesus and pursuing Him.

You often hear people say, well, I am pursuing my dream. And sometimes people say, well, he's after the American dream. These kind of statements kind of deals with life on earth and things people want to achieve and where they want to be, whether the education or resources or money.

I mean, even in Christian work, people have, you know, dreams. And often it's sad to say they sometimes miss the point. What actually is the plan and purposes of God for our lives? You see, in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 13, you know that passage, Jesus talked about the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field.

When a man found it, he hid it again and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought the field. Here, you're not talking about a dream, a treasure. Pursuing your dreams, whatever dream people talk about or you think about, should be your vocation.

Doctor or teacher or carpenter, whatever it is, banker, but pursuing your treasure must be your call, the reason why we live. Our dreams are usually about what we want. And usually it is self-centered and and money and position and power and attention, honor and having a right partner and, you know, good children and have peace and joy and happiness, good health, being a good husband or good father.

I mean, all those things are good. I don't say none of those things are bad in itself. But then there is something so fundamental and critical as individuals and as the people of God that our dream should not be taking us away from the one thing that we must be living for, the call.

That is, as we read in Psalm 42 verse 1, the Psalmist says, I said, Dear pans after the water brooks. So my heart, I long after you. All the shadows that people live for.

And when I say shadows, basically think about it in a fast forward your life, another 50 years or 100 years. Basically, you know, it's like sun comes up in the they cast the shadow. But then what happens later? It's gone.

Then the person who caused the shadow is also no more. So whether a husband or wife or children or job or reputation, wealth or whatever it is, and what people think about you and what they say about you, all these things, it's just so temporary. And the pure passion, our longing, the insatiable hunger must be for Jesus and him alone, to see him, to hear him, to feel him, to follow him, allowing him to incarnate through our mortal flesh and our life and be the light and the hope for those around us.

I never forget some years ago, I was in this prayer meeting in India. You know, there was maybe six or 700 people in the prayer meeting. It was an all-night prayer meeting.

And toward the early morning hours, maybe about 4, 4.30 or so, there was this woman praying out loud. And it was so passionate, so penetrating the words, the way she prayed with such emotion. I opened my eyes and looked around and said, who is this person praying this prayer? Then I realized it was an old, real old woman.

And I guess she must have been 80, 85 or even older. And her prayer, the words went something like this, My precious Lord, my Jesus, when will you come back? How long must I wait? Oh Lord, when will you come back? And I never can forget it. Her face kind of literally glowed.

She was kind of raptured into heaven itself. Kind of that strange look, a gaze as she was saying these words to someone that she looked like was looking at. Of course, that morning, I asked someone, do you know who this old grandma is? I said, Oh no, she's not.

She never been married. And they explained about her life when she was studying in college. She gave her life to Christ and her family that didn't believe in Jesus threw her out.

And she had to walk away with the clothes on her back. And she made a decision to live her entire life for Christ and be a devout follower of her master. And they went on to explain about her life and said, you know, every time you meet her or talk to her, the only thing she can talk about is the day she's going to be with Jesus.

Nothing else she dreamed for. You know, that kind of reminds me of this godly man we read about in Psalm 73. And, you know, you can read that.

It is kind of experience of a lot of believers. He looked around and saw people pursuing their dreams and got their money and cars and luxury and comfort. And they seem to be quite happy and content.

And he looked at himself and said, you know, this is really a weird thing. I've been following the Lord and maybe to explain it more simply, I've been fasting and praying and spending time alone with God. And I walked with him.

I maintained my integrity and my inner life. I guarded carefully. But look at my circumstances.

Look like life is not fair. And he kind of began to compare his life with the earthly perspective, honor and reputation and all this other stuff. Then he says there in Psalm 73, I began to slip.

I just began to lose my grip. And I said to myself, it's not worth following God. This life of suffering and difficulties and inconveniences and all that.

No, this is too lonely. And in the end, he decided he will talk to God. And he says, then finally, I went to God and asked him, Lord, please help me understand it.

And he says there, God opened his eyes to see the end of the story. And then he saw all this stuff that people are living for and fighting for and the worldliness and the whole thing. He saw this was all going to be so completely, suddenly lost and ruined.

And he said, God, no, I don't want that. And then he cries out in verse 25, Psalm 73 saying, whom have I in heaven but you and on earth, I desire no one beside you. And then he says, oh, it is good for me to stay close to my God.

You know the story of Abraham. You read about this in Genesis chapter 12. And God said, Abraham, this is what I want you to do.

Leave your comfort zone, everything that you are living with and you're happy about, leave this and go to a place that I will show you. And of course, you know what he did? He did exactly what God told him to do. But then his nephew, Lord, joined him.

And the story continues. In the end, there came a time when Abraham's servants and Lord's servants had some squabbles because of riches. And then Abraham said, Lord, you know what? The best thing is you go that way and I go this way.

You choose what you want. Although Abraham had all the rights to pick what he wanted. He won't do that.

So Lord, it says, chose the best part of the real estate. Lush, green, attractive. I mean, absolutely.

This is you talk about dream, American dream. There it is. So he moved his tent and began to live his life out.

But the story never ends there. You know what happened to Lord, his family. But then look at Abraham.

After this incident, God said to Abraham, Abraham, I am your reward. In other words, let Lord or anyone else, they go after their dreams and get whatever they want. But Abraham, you have me.

And you know how Lord's story ends and Abraham's story ends. Two different world. Which of those two paths will you take in life, friend? Today on the road to reality, Brother KP O'Hannon stressed the importance of pursuing Christ.

And before we close things out today, we'd like to tell you about a booklet KP has written, which will help you deal with life's failures. And we all have them is framed around the question. When we have failed, what next? Our failures often cloud our vision, but this book will help you see God's redemptive power and the Lord's ability to work out his best plan for your life.

It's available through our website at road to reality.org. Look for when we have failed, what next at road to reality.org or call toll free 866 win Asia. God has a wonderful plan for your life. Even after your failures, we'll share another challenging message from KP O'Hannon on the next road to reality.

Be listening each day and be encouraged to pursue Christ and his kingdom and righteousness.