But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 3:20
I remember, prior to being a follower of Jesus Christ, how hectic my life was. I lived from weekend to weekend. Regretting on Sunday that the weekend was over and beginning the week on Monday counting the days till the next weekend. Living paycheck to paycheck and weekend to weekend. What a hopeless life. I was a proverbial mouse on a wheel, as many of us were/are.
Sometimes we are consumed by work, family, finances. So overwhelmed by details, events and deadlines that we are just hanging on….not actually living.
That is not the life that Jesus died to give us. (The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10).
We are lured, by the enemy, into a mind numbing trance of living in the center of a vortex that leads to eternal suffering, but has pretty glimpses of shimmery emptiness, like beautiful opalescent bubbles that captivate is for a moment but are empty and valueless and then pop and are gone.
That life of a mouse on a wheel or of all consuming business is of the enemy. He focuses us on the things of earth, of this life. The sin and emptiness of the weekend (that we don’t often realize until the morning after) are the bondage that He uses to bind us to this world and this empty life, in hopes of entrapping our eternal souls and robbing God of glory.
We run after things that will bring pleasure for the duration of this short life…fame, power, money, possessions, etc. But what happens to them when we are gone? (“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
We are not to pursue the things of this world, nor are we to be of this world. In John 17:13-19 Jesus beautiful prayer that He prayed to the Father, for us, as He began His journey to the cross, sums it all up…”But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. they are not of the world, just I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
This was/is not Jesus home, Heaven is. This is not our home, Heaven is. We are here for a purpose…God’s purpose. As God sent Jesus into the world to glorify the Father and redeem the world (those who would accept Him as Lord and Savior), we are sent by Jesus to glorify the Father (so that others might accept Jesus as Lord and Savior). We are Legal Aliens, residing here until the Father calls us home. Because this life is so fleeting, we should be about the Father’s work and serve Him.
I pray that today we would recognize how hopeless and in need we were of a Savior, when Jesus redeemed us. I pray that we would realize that those around us are in the same hopeless place that we were and are in need of the redemption of that very same and Precious Savior. I pray that we would understand that it is only through using us, the Church, that God will draw those in need of a Savior to Himself. They are hurting, broken and hopeless and they are residents of this world. But you hold the power (through the Holy Spirit and revealing of our Precious Savior) to be the tool God uses to make them Legal Aliens whose home is in Heaven with us. Show them His love, His mercy, His forgiveness and keep your own eyes on the things above (If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:1-2) where our Savior awaits….our Heavenly Home.
If you do not know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and if you feel like a mouse on a wheel, chasing after empty desires, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. Then, reach out to me and let me know that you have prayed that prayer, so that I can be praying for you and can help you to draw closer to our Precious Savior, Jesus Christ and grow in your relationship with Him. He longs to forgive and redeem you and His love is far greater than any you have ever known. Please pray.
Luv Ya!
