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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