Heavenly Minded
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power. 2 Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. It's very clear what God instructs us to do! This requires faith in action!
The natural or earthly self relates more readily to this temporal world. That's why it's not difficult to make the things of this life our goals and objectives. That's why it's so easy to get all tangled up in the pursuit of bigger and better houses, the latest vehicles, the better paying jobs. It's when these things become the major priority in our lives that we are guilty of spiritual adulatory. They become idols of worship because of the value we place on them. Using the world's "measuring stick" of success doesn't work in the Kingdom of God!
From Scripture we find as special place in the heart of God reserved for those, who like Moses have chosen the spiritual world over the natural world. It means something to the Lord when we give up the pursuit of earthly things to follow hard after Him. It 'doesn't go unnoticed when we seek first the Kingdom of God throughout our pilgrimage here on earth! Here what the Lord has to say about former saints of God who chose the spiritual over the natural. Heb. 12:13-16 - All these faithful ones died without receiving what God had promised them, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed the promises of God. They agreed that they were no more than foreigners and nomads here on earth. 14 And obviously people who talk like that are looking forward to a country they can call their own. 15 If they had meant the country they came from, they would have found a way to go back. 16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them. These Old Testament saints were looking forward the same place Moses was but they never got to experience here on earth. That promise of God would have to wait for another day, but they died with that hope still ringing in their hearts. They chose to live as pilgrim here on earth. They were in the world but they were not of the world. A major point here for us to fully embrace is God's attitude towards these people. They may have looked like fools to the world but God is not ashamed to be called their God!
It's a progressive challenge to maintain right priorities in the Christian life. Others seem to "get ahead" quicker than we do. Others have newer cars and homes, they go on more frequent holidays than we do. The list can go on. Being consistently spiritually focused is easier to say than do! But do it me must! Jesus said that if we would concentrate our efforts on seeking Him and His spiritual Kingdom then He would look after the temporal things for us. Mt.6:33 - and He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.
