In the maze of mixed up theology being propagated by some of those “feel good religions” and a host of social issues crowding the headlines of our newspapers, it is hard to not become distracted from the central purpose God intended for mankind – to know Him fully, worship Him more diligently, and focus upon the eternal life promised in His Word.
Today, we are experiencing more devastation and fear than I ever remember. Historic hurricanes ransack our coastal cities. Many earthquakes and tornados are reaching inland to destroy and damage hundreds of communities and lives. And then the firestorms seen in California and the northwest have gobbled-up many homes and beautiful forest land. Clearly the national weather in 2017 broke century-old records with heat and lingering cold fronts that overwhelmed almost every region of our country.
The violence in our land and individual acts of cruelty suggest a fear about more terrorism coming to our land. If all this wasn’t enough, the threat of countries like North Korea and Iran engaging America with nuclear war seems a real possibility.
Many people seek out worldly pleasures or substance abuse to help cover their pain and insecurities. Intentionally or unintentionally, there are too many Christians who find themselves loving the indulgences of this world rather than the promises found in God’s Word.
Thomas Guthrie was a nineteenth-century Scottish preacher and theologian who wrote, “If you find yourself loving any pleasure more than your prayers, any book better than the Bible, any house better than the house of the Lord, any table better than the Lord’s table, any persons better than Christ, or any indulgence better than the hope of heaven–be alarmed.”
What helps keep us positive in an environment that wants to distract us from the joy God has placed in our hearts is our focus on this fact: this is not our ultimate home. No, my friends, Heaven is our ultimate home.
I love Dr. David Jeremiah’s new study on Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven. In his book he states:
When we lose sight of the fact that God has a wonderful destination prepared for those who are His, we start trying to create heaven on earth. We start investing our time and talent and treasure in creating a place that we know in our heart is what we were created for (Ecc. 3:11). We know there is supposed to be a heaven; and when we stop seeking the biblical heaven, we try to create an earthly one.
“He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.” Ecc. 3:11
Heaven is mentioned over 500 times in Scripture. When the pressures of this world get you down it would be well to remember that we can look forward to our heavenly home.
Jesus reminds us to pray, “Our Father in heaven…” (Matt. 6:9), and in Matthew 5:16, He referred to “your Father in heaven”. Psalm 11:4 says, “The Lord’s throne is in heaven.”
Personal Application:
Focus upon Matthew 6:33: “But seek first His Kingdom and righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you”. What things was the Lord talking about?
Are you content in your life? If not, what is your primary focus upon?
Jim Grassi, D. Min.