But we are citizens of heaven,where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior -Philippians 3:20.[NLT]
Occupied With Heaven
We've all heard of people who are so heavenly-minded that they are no earthly good.We've also heard about preachers who promise their flock great reward in heaven,but ignore life's difficulties.Some people accuse them of being "pie-in-the-sky prophets" who have forgotten that we must still live in the world.
But according to the writer of Hebrews,there is a proper heavenly-mindedness.It's the virtue that enabled Abraham,Isaac,and Jacob to live by faith as tent-dwelling normads in Canaan.[Hebrews 11:8-10]
In his book Mere Christianity,C.S. Lewis wrote,"If you read history you will find out the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.The apostles themselves . . . .the great men who built up the Middle Ages,the English evangelicals who abolished the slave trade,all left their mark on earth,precisely because their minds were occupied with heaven.However,since then,Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world and have now become so ineffective in this.Aim at heaven and you will get earth 'thrown in.'"
If our minds are properly occupied with heaven,we can't help but do earthly good.Is your mind occupied with heaven? Or are you occupied with the things of this life which you will one day die and leave all behind? Make heaven your main focus and your desire to make it there will move you to do earthly good to the glory of God.