I read about a boy named Ernest who lived in a village at the base of a mountain. On the face of the mountain, someone had carved the face of a man. That carving was referred to as the great stone face. According to legend, someone would one day appear who had all of the features of that great stone face. Ernest, fascinated by that face would look at it and study it every chance he got.
Years passed. Ernest grew up and became a man. One day as he stood looking up at the face, someone came by and stood looking up as well. All of a sudden that person looked at Ernest and exclaimed, “Ernest, you have all the features of the great stone face!” All of those years of being impressed by that face, bit by bit he took on those features.
In Colossians 3:1 (NLT) the Apostle Paul wrote, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place on honor at God’s right hand.”
I read about a man, who on his walk one day found a $5 bill. From that time on, wherever he went he usually focused on looking down hoping to find another $5 bill. He collected all kinds of things – coins, screws, bolts, nails – but never another $5 bill. Think of all he missed by looking down rather than looking ahead or up.
We need to spend more time focusing on the realities of heaven and our wonderful Savior. If we do, it will help us keep the kind of balance in our daily living that we so desperately need.
I love what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NLT). “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
So, dear friend, where is your focus – on the things of this present world or the realities of heaven where our wonderful Savior is”
In Philippians 3:20-21 (NLT) we read, “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control.” WOW! We have so much to look forward to.
Are you focused on the mundane things of this world rather than thinking of our wonderful LORD and the realities of heaven? Folks, the things of this world are temporary and are passing away. In the meantime, Jesus is preparing a home for us in heaven that surpasses anything we will ever have in this life. Not only that, we are going to have new, magnificent bodies. Does that excite you? It should.
In Colossians 3:23-24 (NLT) we read, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward and that the Master you are serving is Christ.”
· Where is your focus?
· What are you looking at?
· Whom are you serving?
Paul in Colossians paints a huge picture of Jesus. He is the fullness of God. All of creation was made through Him, and He has the authority to rule over all – every nation, every ruler, every president, and yes – even over every person. But notice in Colossians 2:8-10 (NLT) that the most wonderful truth is the nearness or closeness of Jesus to us. Paul wrote, “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.”
Brothers and sisters, who is sitting on the throne of your heart and guiding your life?
· Satan?
· Self?
· The Savior?
I urge you to do as Paul admonished us in Colossians 3:1 (NLT), “…Set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.”
No matter what you are going through, what the LORD said to Paul when the apostle begged him to remove the thorn, the LORD is saying to you and me a well – My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. Paul learned that what Jesus said was true: God’s grace was sufficient for him. Much later in his life and ministry, he declared, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Jesus is coming soon. Let’s be found serving Him, while at the same time, setting our sights on the realities of heaven and eagerly anticipating His return.
All glory to Him,
Pastor Leonard
