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 3 of 24

EARTHLY THINGS

"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 mind earthly things." (Phil 3:18-19)

What does it mean to "mind earthly things?" You can discern from this passage that it is a most serious condition, not to be viewed as a harmless propensity. "Earthly things" are, by nature, temporary. At the highest end of the scale is the new birth, which occurs in the world. When speaking of regeneration to Nicodemus, our Lord affirmed the indispensability of the new birth. "You must be born again," He affirmed (John 3:7). The Jewish ruler balked at the saying, unable to grasp its significance. The Lord responded to the leader's obtuseness, "If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how shall you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" (John 3:12, NASB). Mind you, this is the most favorable view of "earthly things," yet it is not the focus of Divine attention. Rather, the new birth is the point at which we are "translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son" (Col 1:13). This is not the emphasis of the Gospel. Rather, those in Christ are urged to move on to spiritual maturity, else they fall away after having begun (Heb 6:1-6).

From another, and much lower, perspective, "earthly things" are matters that occupy the attention of those whose primary and preferred residence is this world. The Arabic version renders it, "who entertain earthly opinions." As Jesus well said, "He who comes from above is above all he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all" (John 3:31). There are only two realms that may be occupied, a higher and a lower, an eternal and a temporal.

Jesus came from heaven and spoke of it. His competitors were confined to the cursed realm, and that is what they talked about. It is still this way! Teachers with a primary allegiance to this world have an earthly emphasis. They bring an earth-centered message. Take away this world, and they have nothing to say. Things that are seen dominate their conversation. For them, earthly relationships are fundamental ones. Things that are passing away have captured their attention, and they insist upon drawing the attention of their listeners to them.

These "enemies" of the cross of Christ "MIND earthly things." That is what occupies their thoughts. It is what they think about. They have done what is expressly forbidden by both the word and nature of the heavenly Kingdom. "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth" (Col 3:1-2, NASB). This postulates the incongruity of being raised with Christ while maintaining an earthly perspective. The earth, in all of its representations, has nothing that can be transferred to the eternal realm. Therefore, it is inappropriate to make it our focus.

Do not imagine earth-mindedness to be an innocent departure from the ideal. An earthly focus evidences a quenching of the Spirit, a refusal to hear Him that is speaking from heaven, and a resistance of the Divine influence (1 Thess 5:19; Heb 12:25; Acts 7:51). To emphasize "earthly things" one must turn from "heavenly things." The Holy Spirit will never lead men to place the accent upon what is passing away--never! Those placing an emphasis on such things are, by virtue of that emphasis, "enemies of the cross of Christ." They become obstacles to the Kingdom, hindering men from entering, and making it difficult for those that have entered to remain!

By way of contrast, Paul spoke of His emphasis. "For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified" (1 Cor 2:2). The Apostle spoke about what he thought about! This is true of everyone who comes in the name of the Lord. They communicate what has occupied their thoughts. When we lose a proper focus in our thinking, speaking also misses the mark. It is not possible to think wrongly, yet speak correctly! Minding earthly things compels one to speak in a spiritually harmful manner. It is not a condition to be taken lightly!

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, deliver me from earthly mindedness. Help me by Your grace to set my mind on things above, where Christ sits at Your right hand.

-- Tomorrow: THE LORD'S FREEMAN --