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Are you ETERNALLY MINDED?

A song to introduce this subject… ‘Beulah Land’? (Click here for a Youtube link)

— The apostle Paul made it clear that he lived looking forward to eternity and therefore did not fear whatever would come upon him on this earthly plane.

— SEE what Paul writes in Philippians 1:21-24  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  (22)  If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.  (23)  I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.  (24)  But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.

— Do you think that this is giving up on this life?

— Not so. Look again at what Paul writes in verse 22) “If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.”

This should also be our vision and indeed passion as we also are called to live out God’s purpose to be a blessing to others on this earth as long as God gives us breath.

— However the first line of the beautiful song ‘Beulah Land’ uses wonderful artistry to annunciate the thought process we Christians should all be in mind of… “I’m kind of homesick for a country, to which I’ve never been before… No sad goodbyes shall there be spoken, for time won’t matter anymore.”

A temporal mindset is preoccupied by the cares and struggles of this earthly existence, and certainly, they do press in on us almost constantly. However, by faith we must look past these and call on the name of Jesus to remind ourselves of His promises, such as found in Matthew 6:25-34  “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  (26)  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  (27)  And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  (28)  And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,  (29)  yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  (30)  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  (31)  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  (32)  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  (33)  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  (34)  “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

So in closing, I ask again, Do you think that you are eternally minded, or earthly minded?

And I will let scripture have the final word:

2^nd Timothy 3:1-17  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  (4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  (6)  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,  (7)  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  (8)  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.  (9)  But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.  (10)  But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,  (11)  Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.  (12)  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.  (13)  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  (14)  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  (15)  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

— And may God’s Holy Spirit bless your meditation on this subject, and bring you faith and great victories!

(KK)