Daily Deprogramming

Twice a week  when I go to Mechanic Falls, Maine, I pass by the Shaker Village .   There is very little left of it but a Museum and a gift shop.  I wonder in it’s hay-day if those people thought they were storing up treasures in heaven.  Only God knows if some or many did.

I was interested to read a little about the group and was not surprised to find it was founded and started by a woman.  In 1774 Eight souls came to America from England.  The woman’s name who led them was Ann Lees.  They called her “Mother Ann.”    Not surprisingly either was the fact that Mother Lees had a husband who did not share her faith.  She believed marriage was evil, sex was the problem with society, and  celibacy was the only right course. Her husband spent a lot of time in bar rooms, and finally the two ended their relationship.

The little motley crew of eight souls were destitute and very spiritual. They took root in America and began to grow. There were little groups of “Shakers ” popping up  in spots everywhere, and they grew to become thousands of converts. 

They must have thought they were on the right track. People believed and followed them. They appeared to be blessed by God.  They gave up the right to be man and wife if they were married, they lived simply, they worshipped on Sundays and worked their hearts out for God.  They were kindhearted toward strangers who passed their way , and their lives were all about the Second Coming Of Christ, and making converts for His Kingdom.   But they were going in the wrong direction and fizzled out to nothing.

So, brothers and sisters, our Treasures in Heaven are not about lots of works and spiritual endeavors. It is not about “living with little or much.” It isn’t about “working at the highest level” without being paid.  It isn’t even about  adhering to the right doctrines. The treasures in Heaven are about the heart before God. It is not about outward humility and self-abasement for others to see, but about what is inside our hearts where only God can see. 

Ardith Keef’s first line today say’s,”Those who are determined to lay up treasure in heaven are abundantly free to work and harvest with abandon.”   To this I respond, many who have gone before us have worked and harvested with abandon, but were on the wrong course, following the wrong Jesus.   All their works and “spiritual talk” died out and came to nothing.  Only God knows where their hearts were.

So  “Above all else, guard your heart” (John 14:1-4), dear Christian friend.   Jesus said, “Be careful what you are hearing.” Mark 4:24   Jesus Himself said  ”For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “Matt 6:21  ”There are many who will come in My Name and “deceive many.”  Mark 13:6