39: Living with Heaven in Sight
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
“I pity the man who never thinks about heaven.”
THE APOSTLE PAUL WROTE, “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). This is a command to live with heaven in sight. You can’t focus on Jesus without thinking about heaven, because this is where He dwells and where we will join Him and the many others who have changed their addresses from earth to heaven.
So how do we do this in a practical way?
The Greek word for “seek” is zeteo; it’s also used in Matthew 18:12 where a shepherd searches for his lost sheep. It implies a focused, intense, active investigation or search. In Colossians, this verb is also used in the present tense, meaning we are to be engaged in an ongoing process.
Here are a few thoughts that can help us live daily with heaven in sight.
Remember you’re mortal. Unless Jesus returns during your lifetime, you will go through the door of death. It isn’t the end but rather the beginning. You don’t need to fear death because death has been conquered by Jesus.
Remember your earthly address is temporary. In light of eternity, your time on earth is only a tick on the clock. We will live forever, which has been God’s plan from the beginning.
Remember that your choices and actions have a direct influence on your future world. We’re training for reigning.
Remember Hebrews 12:28. It offers a wonderful promise: “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” Live today in gratitude and thankfulness.
Yes, my friends, you’re destined to live forever. When Jesus came to the tomb of His friend Lazarus, He wept. Why would Jesus weep, knowing that in minutes He would raise Lazarus back to life? Just before He weeps, the text says that He was greatly troubled. I believe Jesus was so troubled because His perfect plan for us was so distorted by the enemy. This was never what it was supposed to be.
Jesus came to conquer death and return our lives to us so that we can be with Him forever.
Questions
- How does one practically live with heaven in sight? How does this affect day-to-day living?
- This world has been distorted from what God originally intended, yet He will make all things new. In what ways has the world been distorted? How do you hope that God will make all things new (Revelation 21:5)?
- In what ways do you need to seek the things that are above? How will this benefit you?