Storeroom

Hello again! I hope you’ve taken some extended, quality time to practice the presence and be with God in the last week. If you did, I’m sure you enjoyed sweet communion with our Triune God: the Father who is holy, the Lamb who is worthy and the Spirit who is power.

Not long ago, I found a new verse in my Bible! Obviously, it’s not actually a new verse, but the Holy Spirit makes this book come to life in new ways all the time! This one has to be from the 2025 edition. 🙂

We know that when something is repeated, it’s worth taking note. In Matthew 13, there are two parables (the parable of the wheat and weeds and the parable of the fishing net) with similar underlying themes:

1. the Kingdom of God grows and transforms over time,
2. good and evil coexist until the appointed time and
3. final judgement will bring separation. 

For most of my life, I thought these parables were talking about people who know God and people who don’t. I thought the weeds and bad fish in these stories were non-believers, but honestly, that idea never settled well in my soul. Of course, sin is evil, and a holy God can’t tolerate or be in proximity with sin, and I do believe judgement will occur. Believers and non-believers will be separated based on the decision they made about Jesus during their 75-85 years walking this planet. 

However, Jesus more often than not approached non-believers with grace and truth in a slightly more tactful way. Of course, he warns them of what is to come, but he tells parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin. He serves the bread of life and living water to those who hunger and thirst. He offers rest to the weary. He extends healing and forgiveness. So, why do these parables sound different?

Well, I believe our answer may be in verse 52 of the same chapter as our parables, “Then he added, ‘Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old’.” Could Jesus be saying that the weeds are religious people “belonging to the evil one” per the parable??? Are the bad fish teachers of the law who are “wicked”? We can’t be sure, but it’s interesting that this is the capstone of this chapter.

This verse jumped off the page at me when I read it. The Holy Spirit gave me pause and asked me to sit with it for a minute. Jesus seems to be emphasizing what has burdened my heart: trading empty religion for a more meaningful fellowship with God. And what happens when we do? We build and accumulate a storeroom of treasures that we are to bring out and share with others. What is this treasure? In between these two parables, Jesus tells us,

 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls.”
Matthew 13:44-45

The Kingdom of Heaven is the treasure. But what is it? It is simultaneously a present spiritual reality and a future physical fulfillment. Wherever people surrender to God, the Kingdom is present. It’s not just about an afterlife. It’s about God’s leading now in the hearts and lives of those who follow Him. This means we live as inter-dimensional beings (physical and spiritual) in a “now, but not yet” reality. We are both of this visible, physical world and warriors in the unseen, spiritual realm.

Presently, the Kingdom of Heaven is growing in the hearts of believers. It is both an inner transformation and outward obedience. Instead of power, we choose humility (Matthew 20:26). Instead of selfishness, we serve others (Philippians 2:3-4). Instead of fear, we live with peace (John 14:27). When we act and abide with childlike faith, we reach through this physical existence and touch the invisible Kingdom. That is where we are privileged to grasp precious spiritual gems as the Holy Spirit reveals God to us. 

We are to experience the Kingdom of Heaven during our lifetime, not just when we get to Heaven. We are to know God personally and intimately now. How do we do that? By seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Why am I so desperate for you to be with Him? To experience Him? To depend on His very presence? Because there will be religious people who say, “Lord, Lord” but will not make it into the Kingdom of Heaven. Why? Because He doesn’t know them. (Matthew 7:21-23)

Words alone are not enough. Religious acts and deeds will not cut it. Many Christians simply go through the motions when we have the ability to build storerooms of eternal treasure as the Holy Spirit demystifies the spiritual realm, allowing us to experientially know the Uncreated Light, the Infinite Presence, the Breath of all Beings – the one true God of the Bible. There is no greater purpose than to MAKE ROOM for Him. He is the treasure. He is the prize.