02/07/2026
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 physical beings who contain an imbedded spirit, rather than a spirit wrapped in an earthly body then we are lost. So, let’s ask ourselves these two questions today… “how do I envision myself?”, and “how am I living my 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 we 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 a better team than the high powered one they are about to face... then anything is possible. If a team prays together before leaving the locker room and feels anointed, then they will play with more than 11 men on the field.
So, what is our perspective of who we are? Do you look at ourselves as a citizen of the world and seek prosperity here before all else; perhaps giving God His ten percent as a way of paying Him off... or consoling Him? If this is the case then we have narrowed the already narrow gate to heaven into what the Bible refers to as the eye of a needle. However, if we see ourselves as spirits, and children of God, who are on a journey home, then the way before us becomes straight and the gate is open wide. How do we choose to see ourselves? Which part of our being do we 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 parts of us must come together to make up who we are, but only our life, our soul, is eternal, and it is our soul which is comprised of both body and spirit.
“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 our perspective of who we are? Are we near sighted, or far sighted? Do we 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... if we see ourselves as bodies with embedded spirits we become like moths on the front porch; we make erroneous decisions based on false assumptions. If, however, we see ourselves as a spirit which is clothed in a body we will maintain our focus on God, Jesus, and heaven, and will fly a straight course through the night sky and avoid calamity.
Every person must make this decision for themselves... are we physical creatures who neglect our spiritual selves or are we spiritual creatures who wear our bodies like a garment? Perhaps we see ourselves as both, and merely lean to one side or the other depending on the circumstance we find ourselves in. 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, but 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 through life is to lean heavily on our spiritual self, and to let God sustain our physical bodies as we walk through the physical world we are born into towards our ultimate destination… Heaven... and God who is Spirit.
Can we adjust our perspective accordingly? Can we set our compass according to the light of Jesus Christ? Listen to these 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
“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 4:24 ESV
And now we need to make our choice, to either live in physical fullness in the world at the expense of spiritual eternity, or to live meagerly within the world and place our faith in the eternal… in our 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 our spiritual relationship, and your Word that guides me through your physical creation towards eternity with you. Help me Father to maintain my bearings, and to keep my focus on you. Lord, you are the prize of my existence, and unlike the fleeting novelties of the earthly things I enjoy in passing, you provide for me Holy Father, and beckon me on, calling me ever onward towards a peaceful life of spiritual union with you. As amazing, and awe inspiring, as your creation and your universe is... it is but a porchlight to what lies ahead for me in you. Help me set the course of my life by the light of your Son Jesus Christ and to avoid the false gods that would mislead me and draw me into their flame. Hear me when I pray and answer me when I cry out to you Lord. Never let me be alone with myself in this world, because without your light I am truly lost.
You are great Father, and your light is always true. You are my ever-perfect guide. Praised be your name for sending your Son 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 flight 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!! Holy are you who makes straight my paths and guides me through the Kingdom’s narrow gate… the Needle Gate.
“Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me.”
Psalm 5:8 ESV
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”
Matthew 7:13 ESV
Amen!
Rich Forbes