Heavenly Mindedness
Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
"This world is not my home I'm just a-passing through My treasures are laid up Somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me From heaven's open door And I can't feel at home In this world anymore" this was the submission of a renowned gospeller Jim Reeves.
This World is definitely not our abode anymore, our citizenship here became invalid when we sin against God in the garden of Eden, and ever since a new home, a place with God has been prepared for us. A place better than our present abode, a place of no pain and sorrow full of everlasting joy.
If so then, that we have been redeemed and sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ and have become a citizen of heaven, the kingdom of God to come, then our focus, affections and purpose in this world should be centred on heaven
Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Setting our affections on things above is living our life in reference to the divine nature of Christ, it is accepting His will and living according to His purpose
When we fix our mind on heaven and see the present in light of eternity, even little choices become consciously important. We will be careful enough not to miss a point in Him so as not to miss all in the kingdom to come.
Being heavenly minded is being full of faith in God and His promises, even if we do not enjoy the best of this world, we have a hope that we will enjoy the best of the kingdom of God that has no end.
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Men of faith of old did long to see the country prepared by God, they laboured to get to that abode as they know they were only pilgrims in this world, so they establish their faith and walk towards the goal set before them, looking not on the things of the canal but the spiritual for they loved not their life till death.
You can't be heavenly minded and still be conformed with the things of this world which are only a foreshadow of what to come.
To be heavenly minded, you must be able to do the following.
1. Understand you are new creature
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
You can only feel at home where you are bound by blood or by relation, you can never be heavenly minded if you are yet to be transformed to the nature of heaven, you can't be heavenly minded when you still carry the nature, character and the body of sin of this world, you must be transformed, rebirth and renewed in Christ through salvation.
2. You must develop a life of fellowship and follower of Christ.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Being saved and renewed alone is not enough, you have just began the journey to know what the kingdom entails, having an intimacy with Christ will make him teach you the ethics of the kingdom, the principles of the kingdom and its glory. These he already made available in the scripture while with the disciples, and also today through the Holy spirit.
3. You must never look back.
Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
There will be so many temptations that will come our way, luring us back to the World of sin and death, these temptations will come as the lust of the flesh, the pleasures of this world, and the pride of life, they will come as juicy offers but it is in a bid to robb us off the kingdom prepared for us.
Stay on guide, 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
The world offers a temporary pleasure but the kingdom of God offers everlasting peace, pleasure and happiness
This world ends life and will eventually be destroyed by fire, but the kingdom to come offers life abundantly with no death.
Don't be carried away by everything in this world to the point of losing focus on that heavenly home.
Be heavenly minded and spiritually conscious for the devil never sleep no slumber.
Stay on Guard.
God bless you.
Prayer key:
1. Lord, thank you for the blessing of today in Jesus Christ name.
2. Lord, help me to be heavily minded in all I do in Jesus Christ name.
3. Lord, help me to end my journey with you in Jesus Christ name.
4. Thank you for answered prayers in Jesus Christ name. AMEN.