Too Heavenly Minded

I have discovered that in my life there are daily opportunities to minister to those who need encouragement, hope. If we are honest with the issue, I think that we can all say the same thing. After all, wasn't that the plan?

Jesus said that is was necessary for him to go back, back to heaven and the Father. Why? Well, He said it was necessary because He needed to prepare a place for us, a place where we would live with Him, in absolute joy, for eternity. I'm looking forward to that place..."Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL COME AGAIN, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."  ~John 14:1-3

What a day of rejoicing that will be! "When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory." (just one of my favorite songs)

However, in the meantime, we have so much to do. Just ask any good Christian. We must hurry here and hurry there. There are committee meetings to attend and clean-up days to participate in. The schedule has little margin for any unexpected event. The calendar is planned well in advance of each designated time of assembly. And that's all well-and-good. Most of us need structure, continuity. We don't do as well with randomness.  But, at the same time, I wonder if we are missing the mark.

Jesus had something to say about that, as well. When the time of His death was approaching, He told His disciples that they must tarry in Jerusalem (home) until they were empowered by the indwelling of His Spirit. There was a reason for this empowerment. It was so that the gospel of life---real life---could be shared with a dying and hurting world. He further instructed them to take this gospel to the ends of the earth, beginning at Jerusalem...H-O-M-E, home!  He also explained what this gospel was AND what it was not. He instructed them that the true gospel WAS NOT meat or drink, here or there (you can just forget about denominational factors of superiority and division!) but rather, that IT WAS righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Thank goodness for that! Just think: all these decades we've been running in and out of the church doors, playing a good game of "Gospel." We love our pomp and circumstance. And woe be unto the new pastor who tries to change anything in the order of service. Sadly, we might be missing the mark altogether.

Maybe, we are becoming too heavenly minded to be any earthly good. Remember that Jesus said to begin at home. I do not believe that He was just talking about the home of the Jews, his first disciples, I believe that He was referring to the center of our individual hearts, our own families and home. What if we treated our own dear families the same way we treated the folks at church on Sunday morning or Wednesday evening? What if there was "no shadow of turning," to be found in the way we spoke or acted...to anyone? What if our devotion was so transparent that nothing could conceal it? What if...

Perhaps John Wesley summed it up as well as possible...

"Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can." PERIOD! Just know that WE CAN DO IT! But, it must begin at home---ALWAYS, if it is to be the true gospel of Christ, and not a cheap counterfeit.

Yes, go to church...serve on committees, get things done to make the world a better place, but examine your own heart and be very certain that your personal testimony is valid behind closed doors.

WWJD? He would be sincere. He would walk in love and forgiveness. He would serve those at home, first. Do you recall His first public miracle? He was attending a wedding, and His mother asked Him to do something when the wine ran out before the celebration had ended. He cautioned her that it was not time to reveal the powers that He possessed, however, He did as she asked, because it was Mama---family. Don't show the workplace and the world what a great person you are unless those who know you best can testify for you! Oh, don't worry. I'm actually speaking to myself, FIRST!

You are loved, cherished and adored by our Savior, our example. He came to show us how to do it. He defined the gospel with His own life. How can we do less? H-O-M-E, heaven on earth!