02/07/2018
Are your eyes fixed on the things of heaven, or do you still chase after those of this world? Do you long for kingdom treasure, or the gold, silver, and riches of an earthly existence? It is so tempting for us to set our priorities incorrectly. If we see ourselves as a physical being that contains an imbedded spirit, rather than a spirit wrapped in an earthly body then we are lost. How do you envision yourself, and how do you live your life?
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”Colossians 3:1-2 ESV
Perspective can dictate how you approach life, and faith as well. Sports coaches are experts at conveying this to their teams. If a high school football team takes the field against an undefeated opponent and focuses on their underdog status, then they are defeated before the opening kickoff. But, if a coach can convince his team that they are being treated with disrespect, and that they are actually better than the high powered team they are about to face... then anything is possible. If they pray together before leaving the locker room and feel anointed, then they play with more than 11 men on the field.
So, what is your perspective of who you are? Do you look at yourself as a citizen of the world and seek prosperity here before all else; perhaps giving God His 10% as a way of paying Him off... consoling Him? If that is the case then you have narrowed the gate to heaven into what the Bible refers to as the eye of a needle. However, if you see yourself as a spirit who is on a journey home, then the way is straight and the gate wide. How do you choose to see yourself? Which part of your being do you assign the most importance to?
“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”Matthew 6:31-33 ESV
We are more than just a body, and we are more than just a spirit. Both halves of us come together to make up who we are, but only our life, our soul, is eternal, and it is that self which inhabits both.
“And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."”Luke 12:19-21 ESV
So where do we place our importance? Do we place it on the transient things of the world, or the eternal things of heaven? Do we fix our focus on him who is in the world, or He who sits eternally on the heavenly throne? What is your perspective? Are you near sighted, or far sighted? Do you see the here and now, or into the kingdom of God, and eternity? The choice sounds so simple, but the temptations of the physical world and its pleasures are tantalizing and great in number.
In the natural world a moth flies by using the moon, or some distant light as it’s guide, this is called transverse orientation, but it fails when the light source is so close that the moth flies past it... when this happens the moth becomes confused, disoriented, and will fly into a campfire, candle, or bang into a porch light. This is similar to how we perceive the world as opposed to heaven. When we set our sights on heaven and use it as our point of reference it is steady, dependable, and fixed, but when we look to the world then we become disoriented and lose our bearing... we become like moths on the front porch; we make erroneous decisions based on false assumptions. If, however, we maintain our focus on God, Jesus, and heaven, then we fly a straight course through the night sky, and avoid calamity.
Every person must make this decision... are we a physical creature and ignore our spiritual selves? Are we a spiritual creature and ignore our physical selves? Or, are we both, and merely lean to one side or the other? To help with this decision let’s revisit Matthew 6:31-33. In this scripture we are told that we are to “seek first the kingdom of God”, or to lean heavily to the spirit within us, but it also says that our physical existence is necessary as well, and says this of our physical needs “your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”
So to ignore either the physical or the spiritual portion of ourselves is to live a lie, because we are indeed both. To acknowledge that dichotomy and lean heavily towards our physical existence goes against God’s desire for us and our relationship with Him. So the correct path in life is to lean heavily on our spiritual self, and let God sustain our physical bodies and lives as we walk through the world towards heaven... and Him.
Can you adjust your perspective accordingly? Can you set your compass according to the light of Jesus Christ? Listen to His words...
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."”John 8:12 ESV
And now make your choice, to either live in physical fullness in the world at the expense of eternity, or to live meagerly within the world and place your faith in the eternal in your spiritual relationship with God.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the remarkable life you breathed into me, and the amazing body and spirit you have combined to form me. Thank you for your relationship, and your Word that guide me through your creation towards an eternity with you. Help me Father to maintain my bearings, and to keep my focus on you, the prize of my existence, and not on the fleeting novelties of the earthly things I enjoy in passing. You provide for me Holy Father, and yet you beckon me on, and call me to a greater life of spiritual union with you. As amazing, and awe inspiring as your creation, and your universe, that surrounds me... it is but a porch light to what lies ahead. Help me set my life by the light of your Son Jesus Christ, and avoid the false gods that I might concoct, and that would mislead me. Hear me when I pray, and answer when I cry out to you Lord. Never let me be alone with my self in this world, because without your light I am lost.
You are great Father, and your light is always true; my ever perfect guide. Praised be your name for sending my Lord Jesus to redeem and lead me, and your Holy Spirit to enlighten and comfort me on my journey. In the day of my final step, when the pilgrimage of my soul is complete, I will stand before you and call out with the heavenly host... Holy, Holy, Holy, art thou Lord God Almighty!!! Now, and forever more!!
Rich Forbes