I saw a Facebook comment regarding my message on Sunday. It said, rather than saying amen, I wanted to say "bam." I laughed when I saw that because there were lots of "bam moments." Like the push to reject the teaching that, as believers, we can live our best life now. Bam. Or the follow up comment that if you believe you can live your best life now, then you have a small view of heaven and a low view of the Gospel. Bam. Or like my opening story when I was banging on my alternator trying to get the starter to turn over. Bam. Bam. Bam.
The biggest "bam moment" for me though was the question, "Am I looking to build a great life on earth or am I longing for heaven?" I don't believe that the two are mutually exclusive. We can have a great life on earth while we long to be with Jesus in heaven. We can do both, but few people do - including me. We become some earthly minded that we are no heavenly good, so to speak.
So, how do we fix it. How to we live like we are longing for heaven?
Worship like you long for heaven. Our times of singing, prayer, teaching, and relationships are opportunities to show that we long for heaven. Some are expressive with the longing. Some are more reserved, but we can all show that we long to be with Jesus in heaven by worshipping Him today.
Obey like you long for heaven. When we keep an eye on heaven, it drives us to honor God with our lives. It drives us to stay faithful even when it is tough. It drives us to endure when we are persecuted. It drives us to store up treasures in heaven.
Tell others about Jesus like you long for heaven. When we long for heaven, we want those we love and even those that we hate to be there. If life doesn't end at death (and it doesn't) and life on earth isn't as good as it gets (and it isn't), then shouldn't we be telling people about Jesus so that they can be with Him forever.
The biggest "bam moment" for me though was the question, "Am I looking to build a great life on earth or am I longing for heaven?" I don't believe that the two are mutually exclusive. We can have a great life on earth while we long to be with Jesus in heaven. We can do both, but few people do - including me. We become some earthly minded that we are no heavenly good, so to speak.
So, how do we fix it. How to we live like we are longing for heaven?
Worship like you long for heaven. Our times of singing, prayer, teaching, and relationships are opportunities to show that we long for heaven. Some are expressive with the longing. Some are more reserved, but we can all show that we long to be with Jesus in heaven by worshipping Him today.
Obey like you long for heaven. When we keep an eye on heaven, it drives us to honor God with our lives. It drives us to stay faithful even when it is tough. It drives us to endure when we are persecuted. It drives us to store up treasures in heaven.
Tell others about Jesus like you long for heaven. When we long for heaven, we want those we love and even those that we hate to be there. If life doesn't end at death (and it doesn't) and life on earth isn't as good as it gets (and it isn't), then shouldn't we be telling people about Jesus so that they can be with Him forever.
Posted in Growth Resources