The Lodestar

When I take quiet walks in my little garden, I walk looking at my toes and seldom look up to the treetops. But at times, when I notice half-eaten fruit or seeds scattered around, I look up and find squirrels or crows feasting on what I could have eaten if I had been watchful. All I had to do was occasionally watch the treetops.

When we come to Christ, we receive the promise of the inheritance of eternity and life with God. We are made alive by God's life. “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses” (Colossians 2:13).

Spiritually, we are seated with Christ, though we continue to live in our physical bodies on earth. Paul elaborated this mystery thus: “Even when we were dead in our trespasses, (God) made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:5—7).

Now, having the two existences, one above and the other below, challenges us to prioritise. Paul, convinced that he belonged to the realm above, craved the presence of the Lord Jesus (Phil 3:10). This awareness compels us to prioritise the reign of God over all other things: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt 6:33). This demands that we live “in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him” (Colossians 1:10).

Leading our lives knowing that we are in the holding area, waiting for the flight to the world to come, transforms our attitudes and actions. Waiting in the holding area is passive, but our life on earth is active while waiting. It is living with hope radiating from our faces, not just following our toes.

Never miss the sight of home above, and do not get lost in the busyness of life on earth.

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