THE PURSUIT OF A HEAVENLY LIFE

Phil 3:20-21; 2 Cor 4:16-18

Once I read a story about a certain store owner by the name Mr. Peter, who wanted to find an assistant to help him run his store. So, he decided to post a "Boy Wanted" sign outside the store. When a boy walks in to apply, Mr. Peter would hire him and immediately instruct him to go to the attic to sort through a deep box of nails to see the nails that could still be saved.

The first few applicants would only last for an hour or so and complaint about how hot it is in the attic. Mr. Peter would then pay them and ask them not to return. Until a boy named Crawford Hill came into the store to apply for the job. Once again, Mr. Peter hired him and sent him to the attic to sort through nails in the box. This time, Crawford would spend hours looking through the box, separating the nails and others that could still be saved. When he picked up one of the last items in the box, he noticed a twenty dollar bill lying on the bottom. After taking the money, he run downstairs and told Mr. Peter the money he saw. To his surprise, Mr. Peter gave him a smile and congratulated him for passing the test. He explained to him that the attic task was just a test to find if he was willing to work hard and whether he would be honest about the money since the job would require him handling the cash register too. Crawford proved that day that he was faithful and honest. Years later, when Mr. Peter retired, he turned his business over to Crawford to manage.

In the same way, we also need to see our present life on earth as a test. Like working on that box in the attic, sometimes we really don't understand everything that God allows us to experience. But one thing for sure, He is constantly watching us so he would to know whether we would be faithful or not, whether we can be trusted for much bigger responsibilities or for much greater treasures.

When you go to the Bible, the Lord Jesus and His apostles have never failed to remind believers about this truth. All of them have sufficiently talked about living our lives today in such a way that we will be rewarded and commended when we get to heaven.

This is how I wish to conclude our series, A Glimpse of Heaven. For four Sundays, we have discovered some of the great things that God has prepared for us in heaven. I hope that with everything we have learned, we have become more excited about God and our ultimate destination. But at the same time, I also want us to be mindful of how we are preparing for heaven. I want to emphasize this morning that it really matters to God how we are living our lives on earth.

Few Sundays ago, we have studied this concept from Paul that "Our citizenship is in heaven." Clearly, the apostle wanted to convey to all the believers that even while we are here on earth, our citizenship belongs to heaven. In other words, while we are still on earth, we can be preoccupied of heaven, or we can be pursuing a life that will impact our existence in heaven. Thus, the question is: How then should we live today? Based on some New Testament passages, allow me to give you four specific ways:

I     SET YOUR PRIORITIES:

In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, when Paul made a reference to all the sufferings he was going through in the ministry, I believe he also shared the perspective that sustained him through everything - the prospect of an eternal glory. For him, what gave him the strength to keep on going, to be faithful with all his responsibilities is the reality that all of these sufferings were temporary, there will come a time when all these will be replaced with a more glorious and joyous existence. And then once you reach verse 18, he qualifies what he had set as a priority in his life and ministry. He declared, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Are you conscious of the distinction between the visible and the invisible realms of life? Paul made it so clear - the visible things are temporary, while the invisible things are eternal. So, if you will have to choose your life's priorities, it would be inappropriate to live for the things which are temporary. John also reinforces this teaching:

The things of the world will all pass away. Yet, when we carefully examine our lives, we often settle for the worldly, visible things. Do you know why? Without a doubt, unbelief plays a very key role. Listen to the following verses:

Both these passages, refers to faith as believing the unseen. Unfortunately, the invisible things for many people are deemed unreal. So they only relate to the visible things. Now, because they don't see God, they don't see the necessity of stimulating a close relationship with Him or seek to please Him in their lives. Jesus Himself had said that we need to make Him and His kingdom our first priority:

II    STICK TO YOUR PROCLAMATION:

When Jesus was here on earth, he had constantly challenged His followers to be conscious of living for the coming kingdom. He made sure they understand that their present faithfulness will never go unnoticed, and will be appropriately rewarded by God.

One area of faithfulness will be in the proclamation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here are the words of Jesus:

Throughout the Bible times, God had used the prophets to be His mouthpieces. Without them, people would have never heard and learned God's will. Though they had the privilege to speak on God's behalf, they were often the object of persecutions due to the contents of their messages. Despite all these hostile treatments, most prophets had faithfully endured everything because of the prospect of great rewards in heaven.

Today, God's chosen mouthpieces are the believers. After Jesus had finished the work of salvation, he left all of us with a great commission:

This message is not a popular one. No one wants to be told that he or she needs to be saved because if they die without accepting Jesus, they will be punished in hell. So don't be surprised if they respond negatively towards you and your message. They might even insult you for even trying to witness to them. But stick to your proclamation. Don't forget what Jesus said, "great is your reward in heaven."

The apostle Paul had shared a very significant perspective to the Thessalonian Christians that all soul-winners should never take for granted.

The apostle Paul never miss the fact that the greatest reward soul winners can have when they go to heaven is to see the very people they have won being also there in the presence of God. Imagine the day your father, mother, siblings, and friends approaching you and thanking you for telling them about Jesus. They would also be a great source of joy for you in heaven.

III   STORE UP YOUR POSSESSIONS:

Another area of faithfulness that we should seriously consider is connected with our possessions. We often forget the fact that God is watching us today in the way we handle our possessions. If we are not faithful caretakers of them, God will never entrust to us greater riches in heaven: Christ reminded us:

Do you know that what you possess today is not considered true riches? Yes, you have probably considered them "true riches" because they are able to satisfy your needs and wants today. However, the Bible does not consider them "true riches" because of their transitory nature. They are all subject to decay or theft. Jesus Himself affirmed this truth:

Jesus has clearly taught that people who are pursuing a heavenly life must consider making investments in heaven through their earthly treasures. It would be foolish to accumulate riches here where we don't have the ability to secure them. It is wiser to invest them faithfully.

Today, when we speak of investments, we specifically think of laying out our money in an enterprise or business with the expectation of multiple returns or profits in the future. Likewise, God is in the kingdom business. He is building His kingdom through the people who come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. As Christians, we must cheerfully invest in the expansion of the kingdom. Based on this investment, we will receive the "true riches" that Jesus promised in heaven.

IV    SEEK YOUR PRIZES

The last one I need to emphasize is related to our abilities. God in his wisdom has given us special gifts and abilities so we can also invest them in the kingdom. In the church of Jesus Christ, we must function according to our gifts and talents. Obviously, our calling corresponds to them. We may not have the same functions or calling, but we have the same accountability. God will surely reward our faithfulness:

Just like in the Corinthian church, Paul was the planter, and Apollos was the caretaker. Both will be rewarded based on their faithfulness in the vineyard of God. In every church, God has sufficiently provided all the necessary gifts and talents. In order for God's church to be healthy, all of God's people must function appropriately. Paul made mention of the judgment seat of Christ:

Literally, the "Judgment seat" is a reference to the "Bema seat." During the ancient times, whenever there were athletics competitions, the Roman emperor seats at the "Bema seat" where all the victorious competitors will stand and receive their prize. Likewise, Paul takes the idea and reminds all believers that we will all stand before Jesus Christ sitting on His throne to receive the prize for our faithfulness. Everything we have done will be evaluated. If we have done our best in serving the Lord, He will take the time to commend us when we get to heaven.

Perhaps, it would do us a lot of good, if we take the time to evaluate how we are living today. Are we pursuing a heavenly life? Have we set the right priorities? Sticking to our proclamations? Storing up our possessions, and seeking our prizes? I really believe our going to heaven is much closer than we are anticipating. Let's not waste our lives. Let's begin pursuing the heavenly life even while we are still here on earth.