Let’s flip the script. If you’ve been around the church for any length of time I’m sure you have heard this saying,
“Don’t be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good.”
I get the intent of this statement, but I think it misses the point. the first part assumes there is a balance between being earthly focused and heavenly focused. Prior to salvation we are all fully earthly focused. After salvation we are called to become fully heavenly focused (Galatians 5:24, Romans 8:13-14, Luke 9:23-24)
Buddhists have a principle of seeking the middle way and that’s what this feels like. Find the right balance. One part work, two parts family, one part church, equals a good mixture. But that’s flawed.
It doesn’t work.
We are all bent toward our own preferences – toward our own desires.
The second part of this statement is, when we see someone who is so “spiritual” that they are flaky in their life here. Well that’s not helpful or an accurate representation of a person in Christ.
We are called to bring God’s purpose to the world, to spread the redeeming grace of Christ.
Let’s reframe the statement of our focus.
“Don’t be so earthly focused that you are no heavenly good.”
Paul said it like this to the church in Galatia:
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NLT
Our old self, our earthly self, is crucified. We now trust in God and follow His eternal plan.
What’s God’s Plan for both heaven and earth? Redemption. God is using people to enact his plan – redeeming Heaven and earth, redeeming humanity.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”” Revelation 21:1-4
It’s going to be great, but residency in the new heaven and earth will be limited. The citizen test is simple. There is just one question. How did you respond to Jesus?
2 Corinthians 5:17-20 shows us how God is using Christ to redeem humanity. God is also using Christians as ambassadors, who’s only responsibility is to proclaim “come back to God!” And the only way back to God is through Jesus (John 14:6).
So, let’s shift our perspective. It’s time for Christians to have a new heaven, eternal, divine purpose driven mindset.
We are being no earthly good to anyone when we are not heavenly focused. As we focus our decisions around the reality that our choices have eternal consequences, it brings a new perspective.
We aren’t preparing for retirement, we’re preparing for eternity. Our job is to help others come to a decision point with eternal consequences.
“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.” Philippians 3:13-14 NLT
Let’s keep the heavenly price found in Christ Jesus ever in front of us. May your heavenly focus drive you to achieve the good God has for you on earth.