“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” Hebrews 11:24-26
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Mt. 6:19-21
“You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
Oh, what a fool Moses was! Wasn’t he? He had been adopted into Pharaoh’s family and could have had endless worldly wealth, treasures, riches, and pleasures! But instead he gave his life to God, knowing there would be suffering in the life God had chosen for him, and sacrificed “the passing pleasures of sin” in order to love, obey, and serve God as he fulfilled his life’s calling. This world would call him a fool, wouldn’t it? This world that thrives on flesh, self, pleasures, sin, lusts, our dreams, our plans, our agendas, our wishes, our ways, our wants, us, us, us, me, me, me, etc. But Moses looked forward to the reward. The reward? Yes! God almighty! The Lord was his reward!
In Matthew 6 above, Jesus tells us not to focus on earthly pleasures and treasures. He tells us not to focus on accumulating worldly wealth, worldly desires, worldly stuff. It’s all temporary anyway, it will all grow old, and one day it will all be gone. It can also be taken away from us at any time. It most assuredly will be taken from us when our lives are over. Jesus tells us instead to accumulate treasures in heaven! Spiritual treasures! There is no greater reward, no greater treasure, no greater gift, no greater blessing, than the Lord Jesus Christ and to have a forever relationship with Him. And there is nothing greater besides the Lord Himself and a forever relationship with Him than all that comes with it like love, hope, peace, joy, comfort, etc. Our hearts, our minds, tend to be focused on where our treasures and pleasures are, right? Jesus wants us focused on God! Not on sin!
In Psalm 16 above, the Lord brings to light the most awesome treasure in the universe. Himself! And to be in His presence! What does the psalmist say? That at God’s right hand are what? “Pleasures forevermore.” Forever pleasures? Like money, cars, vacations, shopping sprees, entertainment, winning the lottery, sex, etc.? No! This is all temporary! What is at the right hand of God then? Rather, WHO is at the right hand of God? Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God in heaven!
What greater treasure, and pleasure, and joy, what greater LASTING treasure, pleasure, and joy is there in the universe than the Lord Jesus Christ and all the spiritual blessings He offers His followers most importantly forever fellowship with Him? NOTHING! NOBODY! NOT ANYTHING!
Our flesh things we are missing out on something when we say no to sin and yes to Christ, and when we turn away from trying to fulfill our lusts to bring ourselves pleasure so we can focus on the Lord and living to love and honor and adore and revere and praise and worship and bring Him pleasure. But NOTHING we can possibly experience in the way of the temporary satisfaction of our flesh when we dive into sin can possibly compare with the forever pleasure and joy of being in closer and closer communion with Christ Jesus forevermore!