Keeping a heavenly perspective

At the best of times our world and all its pressures, stresses, and conflicts can weigh us down. But it seems that at this time of year, when people are encouraged to attain new levels of self-indulgence all in the name of the baby Jesus, the hustle and bustle of life can become almost overbearing. Everything seems to focus on me, my wants, my pleasures, my satisfaction--in short, making me happy in this present life. Most of us have numerous things to do for work, family, church events, or other things, and if we don't take time to draw aside and focus our thoughts on who we are and what we are called to, we can easily be swept away by the spirit of this age.

I'm not talking only about the holiday season. This possibility is a great temptation at any time of year, but things seem to intensify during this time when the media is bombarding us with how desperately we need numerous items that will never once be used after they gain entrance to our homes. Everything seems to focus on this earthly realm.

The reality is we live in this world. As Jesus so clearly demonstrated to his disciples, we get dirt on our feet. It really can't be avoided; it is the nature of living in a fallen world. But while living in such a world, we are to keep our attention set on our heavenly calling. Lifting our eyes to the heavenly calling that is ours in Christ helps to give us a good heart-cleansing, removing the dust from the feet and keeping us fresh in our vision and eternal purpose.

In The Message, Eugene Peterson renders Colossians 3:1-4 like this: "So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ--that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.

"Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life--even though invisible to spectators--is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too--the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ."

I grew up in Indianapolis in the USA, but I've lived in England for 20 years. The accent is still pretty strong, and often people treat me like I just arrived from the USA heartland. Once a lady, who clearly had some definite opinions about the war in Iraq, came up to me and in a rather direct manner asked me what my president was up to. Having not lived in the USA for nearly 19 years at that time, I didn't feel qualified to give an opinion on George Bush's thought process. My inclination was to say to her, "Well, I'm not sure as to whom you are referring, but my present leader is currently seated at the right hand of the Father, and I would be delighted if he would return and establish his kingdom--the sooner, the better."

One thing the church of our time has largely forgotten is that we are called to a higher, glorified life. This realm is not our final destiny; we are only passing through. Instead of trying to fit our Christianity to this realm, we should be setting our thoughts and focus on the higher, heavenly realm. The life we are called to live today should be continuously leading us to that higher spiritual dimension.

"We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Saviour, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthly bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him" (Philippians 3:20-21).

Being citizens of heaven means we set our thoughts and hopes and desires on that coming kingdom. We live in this world, and we engage this world, but we are called to do so from a heavenly perspective, bringing a heavenly hope to those who are bogged down in the mire of sin and corruption. I believe it was A.W. Tozer who once said, "A person who is stuck down a well isn't looking for somebody to jump down the well and stand at the bottom with them; they are looking for somebody up at the top, who can pull them out."

Living with a heavenly perspective may sometimes mean being isolated; it will mean often being misunderstood, but it will also bring the reality of the heavenly life to those who thus far have seen nothing but the dirt and hopeless grime of this earthly realm. That's the story of the incarnation of Christ. He didn't remain a baby. He has ascended into the heavenlies, and his call to you and me is to live with him in that heavenly dimension, learning what it means to live in union with the Father, bringing the life of the Holy Spirit into every aspect of our existence. It's a tall order, but by cooperating with the triune God, it becomes a true and living possibility!