The story is told about a miner who struck gold and carried his bag of nuggets with him everywhere. One day he died and went to heaven, still carrying his precious nuggets. When he arrived, an angel asked him why he was carrying asphalt. "This isn't asphalt," he explained, "it's gold." To which the angel replied, "On earth it's called gold, but here in heaven we use it to pave our streets."
Granted, this is just a funny story. But it prompts us to think about what we consider valuable—and what is truly valuable to God.
What impresses me most about Revelation 21 is the description of heaven's street: It is "pure gold, like transparent glass" (v.21). We value gold as being the most precious of metals, and we use it to make our most prized possessions. In heaven it will be what we walk on. What a reversal!
The things we prize here on earth will not be so highly valued in heaven—the unnecessary things we buy and collect, stock portfolios and bank accounts, admiration and fame. When the time comes to bid earth goodbye, what value will they have?
Earthly possessions are temporary. Remember, our true wealth is in heaven. — Vernon C. Grounds
Nor silver nor gold hath obtained my redemption,
The way into heaven could not thus be bought;
The blood of the cross is my only foundation,
The death of my Savior redemption hath wrought. —Gray
Those who lay up treasures in heaven are the richest people on earth.