In last week’s reading of the book of Esther, we observed a powerful lesson in that Mordecai’s good deeds on behalf of the king were not rewarded immediately. Instead, they were written down in the king’s books. ^[1] As it turned out, this was a very good thing because when the king at a much later date reviewed his books and decided to reward Mordecai, its timing coincided with a much larger work to save the whole of God’s people. God has “a book of remembrance” which will benefit us according to His will and timing for a far greater effect than if we chose the time and place.

It is remarkable the number of times throughout Scripture that God refers to His own working as “preparations”.

By inference we are supposed to understand that our life in this world is supposed to be pursued in preparation for the next; that we have to yield to God’s will and timing. How often we seem to become distracted, even deceived into believing that the things of this world are the more important. One of the foundational beliefs of our faith is supposed to be the knowledge that we are written in His book and therefore the temporal things of this life warrant no more than temporal concern.

But I think we often interpret spiritual “riches” as being multiplied physical riches, such as a heavenly mansion, the streets of gold, and so forth. It is worth noting here that God offers that the true benefit will be the ability to “distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.” I am not sure that we always fully realize that clarity where spiritual matters are concerned is the true wealth of heaven, and that it is possible to begin enjoying that treasure in this life._††_†