Have you ever been talking to someone who will say something and they say “the Bible says. . .” and it sounds right, but it isn’t really in the Bible? I think there are several of those type of statements, and I will try to deal with them over the next couple of days or so (maybe a week). One such statement is that “we are to be so heavenly minded, that we are no earthly good.” Let me say at the outset, I understand the premise of the statement, but I think we as pastors and teachers must be careful how we phrase things. Paul says in Philippians 3:20, “For our conversation (citizenship-ESV) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” We are to like a kingdom-minded life, but we must realize that part of that life is living on mission here in this life. According to Ecclesiastes 3:11, God has put eternity in our hearts (He hath set the world in their heart-KJV), and so we as Christians long for heaven and eternity with Christ. But that does not negate our God-given mission while here on earth. Jesus told us in Matthew 28 to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them all things that I have commanded you, and I am with you even unto the end of the age.” Jesus has told us to be a “city on a hill” (Mt. 5:14), “salt of the earth” (Mt. 5:13), “light of the wolrd” (Mt. 5:14), and He told us “to let our light so shine that men see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven” (Mt. 5:16). If I am only thinking of eternity and living there, I am highly unlikely to do those things. I think a better statement would be that we need to be so heavenly minded that we do good on earth by pointing others to Christ. Kingdom living is a life in which I live like a citizen of heaven (I do the things that please God) who is obeying the King. I had this conversation with someone on Saturday at a t-ball game, but I believe God is giving His church a unique opportunity right now. With the housing market, job market, stock market, storms, politics, and other things going on in life right now, I believe people are seeking stability in an unstable world. You and I dear Christian can offer that, because we can offer Jesus Christ. This may truly be our last attempt at winning America for God and so we need to live in the here and now, and focus on those who God has put before us, and speak the name that is above every name, the only name by which men may be saved, the name of Jesus Christ!
By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him