CITIZENS OF HEAVEN

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself." (Philippians 3:20-21, NASB)

Devotion 2 of 24

ENEMIES OF THE CROSS

The text for this series is preceded by a solemn warning concerning some who were troubling the people of God. These were teachers whose focus was upon this world, not heaven. Here is what the Spirit says of them. "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame; who set their mind on earthly things" (Phil 3:18-19).

In preparation for our consideration of heavenly citizenship, it is necessary that we first review these verses. They provide a contrast between those who are citizens of heaven, and those who remain wed to the world. The Lord will not allow us to commingle this world and the world to come, for that is impossible. One is temporal, and the other eternal. One is blessed, and the other cursed.

The candidness of the Holy Spirit is arresting. The Lord is not tolerant of those who perpetrate worldly interests in His name. Can you imagine the seriousness of being an "enemy of the cross?" That is a staggering consideration! The cross of Christ is where the "enemies" of God became the focus of Divine attention (Rom 5:10)! To be an "enemy of the cross of Christ" is to be a foe of God! It is to stand against the appointed and effectual means of being reconciled to God.

Here, at the cross, is where Satan was "destroyed" (Heb 2:14). It is where wicked principalities and powers were plundered (Col 2:15). The cross is where Jesus was "cursed" that we might be delivered from the "curse of the Law" (Gal 3:10-13). To be an "enemy of the cross of Christ" is to be against these glorious accomplishments--to count them as nothing!

By their focus and manner, such individuals are so aligned against God that their influence tends to block the way to life, not only for themselves, but for those who hear them. It was to this kind of people that Jesus said, "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering" (Luke 11:52, NIV). Unless recovery from this condition is experienced, all hope of salvation is lost. Enemies of the cross of Christ will not dwell forever with the Lord.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I confess through Jesus that I glory in the cross, and am not ashamed of it. I thank You for it, and ask for grace to ever be harmonious with it.

-- Tomorrow: EARTHLY THINGS --