Following Jesus Today: Your Light Comes from Where Your Eye Is Focused

Your Light Comes from Where Your Eye Is Focused

David W Palmer

Jesus schooled twelve very close followers as apprentices to take over and multiply what he had been doing during his 3½ years of personally ministering on earth. He led them in on-the-job training, punctuated with short bursts of classroom teaching. That’s where we are today; we are sitting with Jesus on a mountaintop absorbing the Master’s brilliance and wisdom: 

(Matthew 6:19–21 DKJV) “Do not treasure up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust ruin them, and where thieves break in and steal them. {20} But treasure up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust ruin them, and where thieves do not break in or steal them. {21} For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Jesus’s use of the word “treasures” mostly applies to finance and wealth, but it can also apply to anything else we deeply treasure. The Master is again guiding our focus to the eternal, permanent spirit realm of heaven, rather than the temporary, risky, and decaying realm of this world. We note that he does not say, “Don’t treasure any treasures!” But he says to accumulate treasures; just don’t do it on earth. 

Treasure and the desire for accumulation of it is not necessarily wrong; it is a desire put in us by God. Our Master-coach is simply showing us how to do it effectively and in a way that will bring lasting security and joy. 

We note that in this life, we deal with and use many things, possessions, and money without treasuring them; they are simply necessary for everyday life—like washing machines and doormats, etc. We can quite easily distinguish between what gets into our heart as treasure, and what we simply use. For example, if the Holy Spirit prompts us to give it away, how hard do we fight to keep it?

In verse 21, Jesus gives the reason for ensuring that we keep our treasure in heaven: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” He wants us to put our treasure into heaven so we can get our hearts locked there too. In the next verses, he further explains why this is essential if we are to succeed long-term and to enjoy an abundant eternity with him:

(Matthew 6:22–23 DKJV) “The lamp of the body is the eye; therefore if your eye is healthy (single-focused), your whole body will be fully illuminated. {23} But if your eye is diseased (bad), your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is completely dark, how great is that darkness!”

Jesus’s premise is that “the lamp of the body is the eye.” But what does he mean by this? In spiritual terms, Jesus is telling us that the locus of our focus is from where we will also be endeavoring to receive our illumination—or revelation. If we have our eye focused solely on heaven—Jesus, Father God, the Holy Spirit, God’s word, eternity, etc.—then he says, “Your whole body will be fully illuminated.” This implies that if our focus is exclusively on God’s spiritual realm of heaven instead of the earth and worldly matters, we will receive from God all the revelation we need for every area of life.

In these end times, we need all of the revelation that God is offering us. If we take our eyes off the ball, so to speak, we could miss vital insights that God is sending to keep us safe, secure, and on his path. This would be devastating, and leave us vulnerable to lies, disinformation, enemy victories, and loss. What’s worse, if our eye is focused completely on the wrong objective, we will be “full of darkness” and stumbling disastrously—Jesus said, “how great is that darkness.”

This explains why Jesus is so adamant that we deposit our treasures in heaven. He put it like this: “… for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” If your treasure is on earth—in banks, the stock market, property, or gold—your heart will be here also. Your eyes and focus will automatically follow your heart.

What Jesus calls the “lamp of your body” is its faculty for receiving and deciphering light—its revelation source. If your treasure is here, your light-source will be looking for life-giving revelation from the world and its system. But sadly, the world can only give out dark knowledge—disinformation peppered with some facts—an illusion, instead of eternal, secure illumination.

Like a cruel parent who takes a child by the ear, or like leading a bull by the ring in its nose, the treasure leads the heart, and the heart leads the eye. Thankfully, Jesus has shown us how to receive all the revelation God intends for us to have, guaranteeing we are kept safe and in his full provision. All we need to do is ensure that our treasure—all of it—is treasured with him in heaven, and then we will have absolutely no problem keeping our eye—our source of divine insight and spiritual revelation—focused there as well.

Yes, Jesus’s instructions to his apprentices seem demanding and harsh at times, but his heart of pure love is motivated exclusively with the desire to see us succeed—permanently. He wants us with him in heaven eternally, enjoying bountiful treasure and a regret-free life. He came to earth from heaven with inside information, and a very clear perspective of true reality. Jesus proved the depth of his love for us in his death and resurrection; this same love motivated him to tell us, “Treasure up for yourselves treasure in heaven.” Thank you Jesus.

Today, I have to ask you in Jesus’s name: “Where is your treasure?” And remember, this is talking about money, security, savings, investments, and wealth; but it is also implying anything else we treasure. For example, we treasure our family; where in your heart do you keep them? Do you keep them safe by trusting your Father in heaven to watch over them; or do you hold them tightly here where you trust yourself to guard, guide, and provide for them? 

Where do you have your future spouse, your dream, your vision, your hopes and aspirations? Are they treasured up with Father, or is your focus for them purely on natural means of getting them to happen? What about the things you want that you treasure—dream home, special car, trip, longevity—have you fully released them to the spirit realm? Have you sown your [limited] resources into God’s hands so he can multiply it back to you from his [unlimited] bounty?

You cannot afford to miss out on any revelation that Jesus wants you to have. But your eyes will have to be permanently on him to receive it all. The only way to guarantee that they are is to ensure your heart is anchored in heaven. The only way to keep your heart there is to simply put all of your treasure there. So, get your full treasury of treasure into God’s heaven a.s.a.p.

Episode: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-w-palmer/episodes/Your-Light-Comes-from-Where-Your-Eye-Is-Focused-e2jgt9e

Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-w-palmer