Living with an eternal perspective
Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
Our Ascension devotional message reminded us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as we go through this life. Our Bible verse for this week underscores that thought and adds to it.
Perhaps you have seen the bumper sticker slogan “He who dies with the most toys wins”. Maybe you laughed at that and shook your head. But honestly, how much has the American culture of materialism invaded and influenced your life? We might think that because we don’t have as much as others do that we have not been bitten by the materialism bug. If you ever think you are immune just go look in your closet, around your home, perhaps you have so much stuff that you need a storage unit or you can’t park your car(s) in your garage because it is packed full of stuff.
None of this is saying that we shouldn’t enjoy the material blessings God has given to us here on earth. The real purpose of our verse for this week is to get us to pause and think – “Are we so tied to the things of this earth and life here that we do not live with even a glance toward our heavenly home?”. Every day the news and other sources of information relay to us stories of people who have died suddenly and rather young. Those are sobering reminders that we are only transients here on earth, passing through on the way to our final destination – our eternal home in heaven.
You have likely heard the reminder to think about need vs. want. Please think about that reminder in a little different way – earthly (temporary) need vs. heavenly (eternal) need.
Think back for a moment to this past Thursday when we observed the Ascension of our Lord. The main emphasis of Ascension is that Jesus returned to heaven to prepare a place for us. If Jesus were to come back right now, tap you on the shoulder and say to you “It’s time, I have your eternal dwelling ready for you.”. Would you run after him in eager excitement or would you try to tell him “I’m so tied to this people, things and events of this life that I’d prefer you come back and get me much later”?
There is no doubt that it is a real struggle to live out the encouragement of this week’s Bible verse. As we mentioned we live in a world where it is counter-cultural to focus first and foremost on heaven and be ready to leave the things of this earth. Add to that, the devil is constantly trying to drag our focus back to ourselves and the things of this earth and those around us often underscore that mentality.
May God bless you, strengthen you and guide you to live your life in a such a way that you maintain the proper balance between living for him here and always being ready for heaven!