SPIRITUAL FOOTPRINT
Matthew 6:19-20
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy; and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
No Excuses devotion showed that the world’s collective carbon footprint is responsible for global warming. Climate change comes from burning greenhouse gasses, building up carbon dioxide in earth’s upper atmosphere. Burning no fossil fuels would be ideal, and shrink our carbon footprint. But Jesus has a different idea in mind for His followers.
Treasures in heaven come from believer’s good deeds. The more, the better. Spiritual footprints are measured by actions, prayers, and how we use our time and talents. While both footprints are invisible to the naked eye, they are both seen by what they leave behind.
In 2006, Al Gore’s movie, “Inconvenient Truth,” was released. He estimated that it would take decades for our earth’s temperatures to rise significantly. His warning gave us plenty of time to change our ways. Many countries have made significant advances in switching to wind and solar panels. Yet, today the temperatures are hotter faster than the world’s smartest geophysicists predicted.
Geophysicist (gee-o-FIZ-i-sist) is “someone who studies the Earth using gravity, magnetic, electrical, and seismic methods. Some geophysicists spend most of their time outdoors studying various features of the Earth, and others spend most of their time indoors using computers for modeling and calculations....”1
Global warming isn’t Al Gore’s fault. He’s just the messenger, like John the Baptist came before Jesus (Matthew 3). No one can use the excuse that they didn’t get the memo. Jesus broadcasts His memos throughout the Bible’s gospels. His followers understand that material treasures won’t last. We understand that we’re “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10).
Our prize collections won’t follow us to heaven, but service to others will. Jesus gives us a hint in Matthew 25:40, “whatever you did for one of least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.” That deed leaves a huge spiritual footprint, posted on billboards in heaven!
Take Home Nugget
Our spiritual footprints—deeds done on earth—will be judged by fire (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). Some works get burned up. Other works survive. Even if believers’ works burn up, they will not lose their salvation. Will the person smell like charcoal? Will that person have any treasure stored up in heaven?
1www.seg.org/education/youth-resources/what-is-a-geophysicist 7/12/12
We have our lifetimes to enlarge our invisible spiritual footprints that is seen by how we treat others.
J.D. Griffith
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