What's in Your Suitcase?

Heaven is a far journey and far journeys demand luggage. The most common type of luggage is a suitcase. All sorts of things go into the suitcase like clothes, shoes, laptops, and toiletries. As you journey to Heaven what is going to be in your suitcase?                    

Sins? Some try to pile their suitcase full of sins. Big sins, public sins, and secret sins are the components of some Christians’ suitcases. Often, “pet sins” (or “accepted” sins) (cf. James 2:10) are carried as if they are no big deal. Some of these may include:

• Lack of growth (1 Peter 2:1-2; 2 Peter 3:18).

• No evangelism (Matthew 9:36-37; 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16).

• Gossip, slander, and malignity (Romans 1:29-30; 1 Timothy 5:13; James 4:11).

• Immorality like dancing, drinking, or gambling (Galatians 5:19-21).

Don’t expect to be allowed entrance into Heaven with a suitcase full of sin for the Hebrews’ writer urges us to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,” (Hebrews 12:1) BEFORE we reach Heaven. 

Money? Money is good now, but it is useless in Heaven. Some pile their suitcases with money more than they do with sin; however, such may display a sinful attitude nonetheless (Colossians 3:5). It is interesting to see how much paper and numbers are worth to individuals. Are your savings piled up so high that Heaven is unseeable? Entering Heaven with a rich background can be tricky (Matthew 19:23-24), so make sure your priorities are in check (Matthew 6:33). Don’t be like the farmer who said, “I would not mind dying…if I could take my money with me.”[1] Heaven is for those who valued IT over money (Matthew 6:19-21; Colossians 3:1-5). Don’t expect to take your money with you into heaven for “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:7). The only jewels in Heaven will be those crowned a royal robe (1 Peter 2:9).  

Good Works? If there is something to pile your suitcase with, it would be these! Good works are the things Christians are called to do (Ephesians 2:10; 2 Timothy 3:17). Tabitha was “full of good works” (Acts 9:36) like the godly woman she was called to be (1 Timothy 2:10). Jesus’ death paved the way so that we might fill our suitcases to the brim with good works for God’s glory (Matthew 5:16). Paul wrote: “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). Maybe you will fill your suitcase with:

• Visiting (Matthew 25:35-40)?

• A mission trip (Acts 13:3-14:26)?

• Financial support of a family in need, preacher student, or church program (cf. Acts 4:34-37; 1 Timothy 6:18)?

Such things will benefit you physically and spiritually: “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men” (Titus 3:8). While judgement is not based solely on good works alone, make sure you take good works with you to Heaven because you will present them before God (Matthew 25:34-40; Romans 14:12; 1 Timothy 5:25; cf. Matthew 25:19-23).

Saved Souls? While no one will be able to put their suitcase into ours (salvation is personal), will your suitcase be filled with a piece of those who you helped convert? Perhaps your suitcase will be filled with numerous Bible studies in public places (cf. Acts 16:13-14) or across kitchen tables (Acts 20:20). Maybe you contacted the local nursing home asking if anyone would be interested in a Bible study which lead to a baptism or sent a tract to another which lead to conversion. We get to carry a piece of our converts with us to as we travel to Heaven and are able to rejoice with them as they are saved. Paul wrote, “Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward” (1 Corinthians 3:13-14). How many lives will your suitcase be filled with as you travelled the road on earth?

As we travel this earth, we are filling our suitcases with a plethora of things. When God opens it up on judgement (2 Corinthians 5:10), what will he see in yours?

Endnotes

[1]Charles Spurgeon.