Are You Making Deposits Into Accounts Down Here, Banking on the Future? Fine! On the Other Hand; Are You Making, "Deposits in the Heavenly Bank"! Where is Your Heart?!

An artist rendition of the "Celestial City" that John Bunyan wrote about in The Pilgrim's Progress. Where the Heavenly Bank is located!

A Devotional Reading for March 31, 2025

From the Writings of Imprisoned and Persecuted Pastor John Bunyan

And Author of Pilgrim's Progress

Writer of Pilgrim's Progress

Deposits in the Heavenly Bank

“And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; come, follow me’”

Mark 10: 21.

If you would be faithful to do that work that God has appointed, you do it in this world for his name? Believe then, that whatever good thing you do for him, if done according to the Word, it is not only accepted by him now; but recorded, to be remembered for you against the time to come. Yes, laid up for you as treasure in chests and coffers. To be brought out to be rewarded before both men and angels, to your eternal comfort by Jesus Christ our Lord. “Lay not up,” saith Christ, “treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6: 19 & 20). The treasure here our Lord commands we should with diligence lay up in heaven, is found both in Luke and Paul to be meant by doing good work.

Luke renders it, “Sell that ye have and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth,” the latter part of the verse expounds the former (Luke 12: 33, KJV).

[The Apostle] Paul says, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy: that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate: laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6: 17 & 19, KJV).

This devotional taken from my most recently released book Daily Writings (of) John Bunyan.