Philippians 3:20-21
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Years ago, I discovered that certain companies manufactured products according to the market to which the products are destined. So export products tended to be of a better quality than those destined for local consumption. Products for upmarket stores were also similarly high quality. I learned that the reason was that the markets to which the products were destined had specific standards all products should meet, otherwise they would not be acceptable. So local factories did everything they could to meet the demands of the export market.
How much more is it in the spiritual realm beloveds? The Kingdom of Heaven has very strict specifications for its products. Many so-called Christians today do not meet heavenly specifications. We are all in danger of making spiritual products that are strange to God’s will and standards. It’s no use arguing that our churches and Christian traditions are acceptable by contemporary standards. It’s no use to argue that all other Christians and churches are compromising and getting away with murder, so to speak.
If we truly believe that our citizenship is in heaven, how then should we live? How much should we seek to please our Saviour? How much should we shun evil and do the right? How much should we seek the Holy Spirit’s empowerment? And how much will things of this world matter? I believe with all my heart that all these earthly things that worry us will cease to affect us immediately. We’ll forgive all our debtors. We will overlook petty matters. We would seek the Lord with all our hearts. We would be fervent witnesses of Christ. There is no better time than now to do so!
Pastor Josh