If I had to guess the thoughts of many Christians based upon their actions; it would be this.
Heaven is wonderful and I’m looking forward to it someday. Hopefully it’s a long time from now. I want to live my life to the fullest on this earth. Then when I got my foot on a banana peel and can’t get around and do everything exactly the way I want, then I want to go.
Is this what the Lord wants us to be like?
Colossians 3:1-3 – 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
God wants us to put our FAITH into Him. He wants us to live for Him. This takes a change of our normal human outlook of putting self first.
Romans 12:2 – 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Ephesians 4:22-24 – 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
We don’t automatically think the way we’re supposed to and that’s because we are fallen sinners. All of us are sinners. We need to seek God and get our spirit and head back on straight. This starts with a change of the heart. It’s man’s heart that decides rather he wants to seek God.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 – 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
10 “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
You see the idea isn’t to play to win in the worldly game. We should be setting our eyes on the Lord and worshipping Him. We need to figure out what it is that He wants from our lives. If we do that He’ll take care of our needs and more importantly than that He is looking forward to rewarding those who live by faith for Him. He warns us not to build our empire on earth, but obey Him and store that treasure up later.
Matthew 6:19-21 – 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
God wants our hearts. He knows if you’re chasing after success and money that your heart is there instead.
Proverbs 23:4-5 –4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. 5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
The old adage you’re not taking any of it with you is true.
So the question is, where is your heart and your home?
Philippians 3:20 – 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
If your heart is in loving the Lord and your home is Heaven then we need to take heed of what the Master’s manual says. What I read is beware of living for the world and lets live by faith that we really believe the Lord wants us to seek Him, work for Him, and to reward us for that in Heaven.
Earth now, Heaven later, doesn’t match up with what God’s Word has to say. It matches up with what the sinful human heart wants.