Philippians 3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Too Earthly Minded?
Are we living on Earth but living with the end in mind? What I mean
is, do we live each day knowing that our citizenship is not here but in
heaven (Phil. 3:20)? We are already in the kingdom if we’ve been born
again (John 3:3) since the King of that kingdom died for us, was raised
again, and will take us into that kingdom someday (soon?). No matter
what we suffer with today, the glory that’s coming cannot even be
compared to what will be revealed someday (Rom. 8:18). Every day I get
up, and it’s a little bit harder because this body is decaying rapidly
the older I get, but it’s going to be rebuilt someday with the eternal
hands of God (2 Cor. 5:1). Today we have the image of a dust-made body
that is passing away, but someday we’ll exchange it for a heavenly image
and an immortal body (1 Cor. 15:49
Too Heavenly Minded?
Is it possible that we can be too heavenly minded to be any earthly
good? I don’t believe so. In fact, I think we’re actually more earthly
good when we are heavenly minded because we have this hope of glory in
us. This hope of heaven is laid up for us already, and that’s part of
the message of the Gospel (Col. 1:5). What is the worst thing that could
happen to us today? We could die, and then, oh no, we’d suddenly be in
the presence of the Lord! How terrible–not! See my point? The moment we
leave this earthly tent, in the very next instant we’ll be with the
Lord; Paul was confident of that (2 Cor. 5:8). Are we? I hope so. Of
course, I’m in no hurry because as long as you and I are drawing breath,
God is telling us that He’s not done with us yet. We’ve got work to do,
the work of heaven!
Keep Looking Up
I love the analogy of keeping our eyes looking upward in eager
expectation and anticipation of Christ’s return. Jesus will come down
from the heavens with a voice of an archangel, and when that trumpet
sounds, the dead go first and then we go next (1 Thess. 4:16) to ever be
with our Lord. This will take less time than the blinking of an eye (1
Cor. 15:22). Then we’ll be with the Lord forevermore (1 Thess. 4:17). It
can’t get any better than that, can it? Imagine the reunion with our
long-lost loved ones who trusted in Christ. Think about meeting all of
those heroes and heroines of the Bible. Imagine rubbing shoulders with
King David, Abraham, and Paul, but first and foremost, I want to see
Jesus, fall at His feet, and worship Him. Shouldn’t that occupy our
thinking today while we live on Earth?
A Closing Prayer
Great Creator God, You will call again to the handiwork of Your
hands, for You won’t leave me in the grave but call me to Yourself to be
forever in Your presence. Please help me to dwell on the heavenly
things while still here on Earth, and in Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen
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