11 January Philippians 3

Focus on Heaven

Philippians 3:17-21(MSG) Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites. But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.

Colossians 3:2(AMP) Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above , not on things that are on the earth .

Matthew Henry says: “Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.”

Our primary goal should be to put God first, to put others before ourselves, and to walk in honour, respect, and obedience to Him and His ways. But the world calls us to something different. It tells us to play the game of life, where we accumulate as many riches as we can and enjoy as many pleasures of the body and mind as we can. In the process of doing that, we put our goals, objectives and want above what God wants for our lives.

Romans 12:2(NKJV) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. The word ‘conform’ comes from the Greek suschématizó, which means to fashion, pattern, or style after. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “to be similar or identical, to be in agreement or harmony with,” and to “act in accordance with.”

Instead of conforming ourselves to the world, we are to renew our minds, and pattern ourselves after Christ and our eternal home in heaven with God, our Father. This transforming and renewing of our minds comes about from the intake of the living and active Word of God. God’s Word is not just given to us to inform, but to transform.

“The Scriptures were not given for our information, but for our transformation.” -D.L Moody

When we focus our mind on Christ, self-focus turns to Christ-focus.

Joni Eareckson Tada writes in Heaven: Your Real Home, “When a Christian realizes his citizenship is in heaven, he begins acting as a responsible citizen of earth. He invests wisely in relationships because he knows they’re eternal. His conversations, goals and motives become pure and honest because he realizes these will have a bearing on everlasting reward. …He gives generously of time, money, and talent because he’s laying up treasure for eternity. He spreads the good news of Christ because he longs to fill heaven’s ranks with his friends and neighbours. All this serves the pilgrim well not only in heaven, but on earth; for it serves everyone around him.”

I conclude with “Our minds are most full of heaven when they are most full of Christ.” -Scott Hubbard