ALL EYES ON HEAVEN!
“…one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE AHEAD, I press toward THE GOAL for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).
Whether proclaiming the gospel from province to province, or sitting in a lonely Roman prison, the apostle Paul had a great deal on his mind. “…besides the other things…my deep concern for all the churches.” (2 Cor. 11:28) Yet his words to the saints in Philippi indicate that HIS OVERRIDING FOCUS WAS GETTING TO HEAVEN. And, as he added in vs. 15, “…Let US, as many as are mature, HAVE THIS MIND…”
The author of Hebrews mirrors Paul’s thinking, adding that our Lord kept His focus on getting (back) to heaven. “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance THE RACE that is set before us, looking unto Jesus…who for the JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the RIGHT HAND of the THRONE OF GOD.” (Heb. 12:1-2)
Going to heaven must be our #1 PRIORITY in life. Nothing else is as important. We are told in Colossians 3:2, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." We need to remind ourselves daily that the MAIN THING in life is GETTING TO HEAVEN.
We need such a reminder because, in our materialistic society, it’s EASY to get caught up in the pursuit of pleasures or things. It is easy to lose sight of our goal when so many things compete for our attention. This is a MISTAKE. Jesus warned, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves TREASURES IN HEAVEN, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matt. 6:19-21)
Heaven will be wonderful beyond our wildest dreams. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor. 2:9). So let us stay focused on the goal ahead as we "run with endurance the race that is set before us…" (Heb 12:1), Heaven will surely be worth it all.
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis
“…one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE AHEAD, I press toward THE GOAL for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).
Whether proclaiming the gospel from province to province, or sitting in a lonely Roman prison, the apostle Paul had a great deal on his mind. “…besides the other things…my deep concern for all the churches.” (2 Cor. 11:28) Yet his words to the saints in Philippi indicate that HIS OVERRIDING FOCUS WAS GETTING TO HEAVEN. And, as he added in vs. 15, “…Let US, as many as are mature, HAVE THIS MIND…”
The author of Hebrews mirrors Paul’s thinking, adding that our Lord kept His focus on getting (back) to heaven. “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance THE RACE that is set before us, looking unto Jesus…who for the JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the RIGHT HAND of the THRONE OF GOD.” (Heb. 12:1-2)
Going to heaven must be our #1 PRIORITY in life. Nothing else is as important. We are told in Colossians 3:2, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." We need to remind ourselves daily that the MAIN THING in life is GETTING TO HEAVEN.
We need such a reminder because, in our materialistic society, it’s EASY to get caught up in the pursuit of pleasures or things. It is easy to lose sight of our goal when so many things compete for our attention. This is a MISTAKE. Jesus warned, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves TREASURES IN HEAVEN, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matt. 6:19-21)
Heaven will be wonderful beyond our wildest dreams. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor. 2:9). So let us stay focused on the goal ahead as we "run with endurance the race that is set before us…" (Heb 12:1), Heaven will surely be worth it all.
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis
RSS Feed