Is your Citizenship in Heaven?
Pastor Brian Hedges of Redeemer Church in Niles, MI, shared these thoughts about Philippians 3:15-21.
It was Oliver Wendall Holmes, the 19th-century American poet, who first said that “Some people are so heavenly-minded that they are no earthly good.”
…But actually, nothing could be further from the truth. History demonstrates that the people in this world who have done the most good are actually those people who are the most conscious of the world to come.
Think of William Wilberforce, that great 18th-19th century statesman in the United Kingdom who almost singlehandedly abolished the slave trade in Great Britain. Or think of men like George Whitefield or Charles Haddon Spurgeon or George Mueller, who were not only great preachers, but also founded orphanages to take care of destitute and abandoned children. Think of Amy Carmichael serving there in India among the poor and the destitute as a missionary.
There are so many examples of people who, precisely because their minds were set on the world to come, because they were so heavenly-minded, they expended themselves in serving the needs of others and in serving Christ.
Well, this morning we’re going to look at a passage that’s all about being heavenly-minded, and it’s actually a passage that gives us a series of contrasts between two kinds of people: between believers and between unbelievers. It’s a very searching passage.
I was just listening to a series of lectures on the Puritans from J.I. Packer in the last week, and he talks about how the Puritans would “rip up the conscience” of their hearers. Well, this is a passage that rips the conscience. It’s very heart-searching, and I think as we see these contrasts and what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ, with a certain way of thinking and a certain perspective on this world and on the world to come, we will find it heart-searching for us as well.
Let’s look at Philippians 3:15-21. Paul begins with a series of exhortations, and then begins to give these contrasts. He says, “Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
We are citizens of this world (eg, the United States) but, more important, we are citizens of a heavenly kingdom. We need to be good citizens of our earthly nation, but our first allegiance should be to Christ’s Kingdom. As Pastor Hedges pointed out, “History demonstrates that the people in this world who have done the most good are actually those people who are the most conscious of the world to come.” When we understand that this world is not our final home, we can do the most good here & now. So be both heavenly-minded and earthly-minded. Let’s honor Jesus with everything we do!
This Sunday, September 27, we will continue our study through the Book of Philippians, “Unshakable Joy!” with “Our Citizenship is in Heaven” (3:17-4:1). Please invite someone to join you at the 10:35am worship service in the building or online for the Live broadcast on either Facebook (Honolulu AG) or our YouTube channel (Honolulu Assembly of God). We Livestream every Sunday to both locations and would love to have you join us!
Be sure to check out the online midweek Bible Study that is uploaded every Wednesday afternoon to our website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel. Please pass it along to someone who is in need of encouragement.
Reminder: The “Celebration of Life” service for Filipo Sipelii will be this Saturday, September 26, at 12pm here at Honolulu Assembly of God. The service for my dad, William Ashpole, will be on Saturday, October 3, at 1pm at Faith Assembly in Mililani (95-121 Waimakua Drive). Dad’s service will be Livestreamed at faithag.subspla.sh/fpy26tb.
Aloha and Aloha ke Akua!
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