First written on January 15, 2015
As we are often reminded in sermons, books, and more not to make earth our home (or focus or longing) but rather Heaven instead, the question becomes how can we physically live on (or invest in) this earth here while we spiritually live (or invest in) Heaven, storing up our treasures there, and not be double-minded?
Here’s what I mean by investing in things on earth: Marriage, family, being a good or responsible citizen, business, church, relationships. How much do we invest in all these things if we are to be heavenly minded? So it becomes a matter of how much becomes too much.
Making earth our primary (unbalanced) investment, for me, can be summed up in the physical, material. Matthew 24:35 reminds us that “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away”. Laying all our treasures up on earth robs us of treasures in both Heaven and earth. There is a real danger that we wind up worshipping mammon (Matthew 6:24), and miss out completely on all the Lord wants to bless us with. We become so caught up in earthly government and kingdoms that we easily tend to fear, fret, and worry about our future and all that we are trying to hang on to (comfort, security, possessions, way of life). The truth is all of that is vapor apart from Christ anyway.
Think about Judas Iscariot. He is a good example of one who was earthly-minded, caught up in possession. He was so sure that Christ was here to establish an earthly kingdom that he decided to “hasten the day” by trying to force Jesus into that action. In the end, he lost it all, including his own soul.
There is also a danger with the flip side of being so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good. I’m reminded of a friend of mine who is in a bad marriage. She has expressed to me that she is waiting for Jesus to return and rescue her from it, since this world is not our home anyway (and then she ends the conversation with “Lord Jesus please come quickly”). What that does, however, is that it eliminates her responsibility for the marriage and takes prayer out of the equation. Why work on building a good marriage if Jesus is going to come back for us any day now anyway? But she will tell you that she is focused on building her treasure in Heaven.
Can you imagine a world without the United States of America? If our founding forefathers took on that same attitude, there would be no United States. They all would have sat around and prayed for Christ to come back soon and rescue them from their current situation with the British. How then were our forefathers able to build such a godly foundation for our country here on earth and yet be as heavenly minded as we are called to be? How can we be good citizens here and now without abandoning our responsibilities because we want rather to build treasures in heaven instead? Does it have to be either/or?
The bible tells us in James 1:8 that a double minded man is unstable in all his ways, and reminds us in Philippians 2:5 to let the same mind which was in Christ Jesus be in us also. So how do we physically “live” here while we spiritually “live” there? I’m thinking I am not the only one to ask this question. As a matter of fact, it is one I have been seriously pondering for over a year, and one to which I now have the answer.
Simply put, the only way we can be single minded on that whole line of thinking between heaven and earth is to rather live in the Kingdom of God instead – because IT is neither here nor there, but indwells both simultaneously.
“The Kingdom is the central issue with the King being exalted in all things. Our only hope of honor (glory) is being found in him. Heaven and earth share the same reality in Christ.” -Dudley Hall
If we live in the Kingdom and allow Christ to fully live His life through us, we will always be single minded when it comes to the dichotomy between heaven and earth.
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“Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” – Mark 1:14-15
“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” – Matthew 9:35
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” – Matthew 24:14
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” – Matthew 6:10
“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21
“And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.” Mark 3:24
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
“How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.” Daniel 4:3
“But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even for ever and ever.” Daniel 7:18
“And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” Daniel 7:27
“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32
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