“The Next Spiritual Journey” Day 12: It’s about your faith, your focus, and your future.

“Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.””

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Last time, we began our consideration of whether it is possible to be “so heavenly minded that you’re no earthly good,”with looking at the concept of “Celestial Armenia,” that has become a sticking point between the Apostolic Armenian Church in Armenia, and their secular government leaders. Indeed, we discovered that this struggle, this controversy, concerning allegiance to the Kingdom of God, is not limited to Christian Armenians. Rather, it is common to all of those who choose to follow after Christ. We looked at several witnesses, speaking from the word of God, confirming that it is right that our focus be on the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Let’s add this scripture for good measure:

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There it is, if we prioritize the Kingdom of God and His way of being and doing, He will see that our needs are met.

Before moving on, let’s look at one of the more “famous” passages attributed to the Apostle Paul:

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬-‭14‬, ‭17‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Here, Paul makes clear that we are working for a heavenly prize; and part of doing so, involves putting the desire for the Lord and His way of being and doing ahead of any of our personal appetites or things the world system has to offer.

We also see that part of our focus being on the Kingdom of God, is to be “eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.”

In our opening scripture, the Apostle Paul is encouraging the church at Corinth to be separated unto the Lord. Of course, they had to live their lives just as we do, in terms of their responsibilities, their labor, and their relationships; but none of these other things, are to ever usurp our allegiance and devotion to our forever King.

Child of God, although we live in this world, we are not of this world. However, we also know that we MUST be ambassadors of Christ in this present life. Therefore, far from being “so heavenly minded that we’re no earthly good,” our faith in Christ alone, our focus on His way of being and doing, our hopes for the future being set on the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ, and looking to our heavenly reward, make us the ones who can do the most good for hurting people and for sin sick souls. You see, as Christ’s ambassadors, we are to represent Christ and urge others to become part of the family of God. As well, in that we are living the Last Days before the coming of Jesus Christ, we also have the responsibility to tell as many people as will hear it, that our true King is indeed coming soon. And child of God, as He spoke to me to say when I am challenged, not only is our King coming soon, He is bringing His Kingdom with Him.

Before going, allow me to encourage you to take stock of what your faith is in, what your focus is on, and where your hopes are set. As followers of Christ, our faith must be based on the fact that Jesus is Who He said He is and that our reward is with Him. Our focus, that is to say, what occupies our thoughts, most of our energy, our affections, etc., must be on the Lord. And, in terms of our hopes for the future, they must be firmly set on our destination: The Kingdom of God, where we will rule and reign with Him forever.

Indeed, this very assessment, this ongoing assessment, of whether or not we truly are who we say we are as Christians, was, after all, the purpose of “The Next Spiritual Journey.”

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!