See
Philippians 3: 20 -4:1.
The
first question is whether we see ourselves as citizens of Heaven or of Earth?
How do you see yourselves? Many Christians are not focused on Heaven. All too
often our focus is on this life, becoming prosperous, striving for success,
pursuing comfort, trying to fix up our lives. These things are important, but
when they become our focus, we are focusing on the wrong thing.
As
Christians, the hope of Heaven should define our lives here on Earth. After
all, we are citizens of Heaven. That is our eternal home and destiny. We will
spend eternity there. That thought ought to excite us.
And
remember –– Jesus will come for you!
We
eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ …
(Philippians 3:20b NIV)
We
eagerly await his return. In other words, those who love Jesus can’t wait to
see him face-to-face. We want to be with him. We are excited about Heaven.
Just
think of what it means to be with Christ. Jesus said, in John 14, that he was
going away to prepare a place for us.
Heaven
will be the most exciting place we’ve ever been. It begins with a marriage
feast.
"No
eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared
for those who love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9.)
Realize,
you will be eternally transformed!
…the
Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under
his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like
his glorious body. (Philippians 3:20c-21 NIV)
We
must also realize that we will be eternally transformed.
This
transformation has already begun. When we came to know Jesus Christ as our
personal Lord and Redeemer, the process of transformation that we call
salvation started. It started internally. And one day it will be completed when
our physical bodies are transformed.
To
enjoy Heaven, we will need new bodies. We will need eternal bodies. We will
need immortal bodies. Will need bodies like the body Christ now has in
heaven. And that is just what we will
receive. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul tells us that our bodies will be changed in
the twinkling of an eye. In other words, in a millisecond we will exchange this
temporary earthly body for a glorious eternal body that will be perfect and
immortal.
There
we will have bodies that will never get sick. Our bodies will never experience
pain again. And we will never grow old or die. We will live forever!
Are
you excited about this? This is something that you ought to be excited about.
The transformation that began with the new birth will be completed when we
receive our new body.
Respond,
and stand firm in your hope in Christ: Therefore,
my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you
should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! (Philippians 4:1)
You
see, this world is not all there is. There is so much more. This world will
never fill up the empty place you have in your heart. Only Christ can do that.
We
need a focus beyond this world. We need a hope that is strong enough to carry
us through the tough times. We need an eternal perspective to give us courage
to stand firm. And we have that in our eternal hope in Christ. We are citizens
of Heaven. Christ is coming back for us. We will be transformed and live with
him forever. That must be our focus. We must live from that perspective. That
will give us courage, hope and joy.
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