Becoming Heavenly-Minded

Last week the Zager family lost their one-year old son Hank. I cannot fathom the depth of their loss and pain. But I have seen their hope, and that hope... I know where that comes from.

Casey, Hank’s father said, “We grieve, but we grieve with hope.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 says:
And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
The passage goes on to say... So encourage each other with these words.

My desire is to encourage with hope.

I had a dream a few years ago...

I was sitting next to Jesus on a big, cozy couch, the kind you sink into and never want to get up from. He grinned at me, leaned over, and pulled out a large book. It contained the most beautiful illustrations I have ever seen. The colors, dimension, imagery, made me feel alive. Jesus looked up at me and said, “This is the story of your life.” He began flipping the pages revealing the eternal ramifications of my life.

I think of this dream so often. It brings me comfort and hope, but it also stirs a heavenly awareness in me. It reminds me to partner with God and live this life to the full. I want the book of my life to be full of stories of faith, hope, and love.

I am reminded that this life is short, and how we spend our day’s matters.

Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. James 4:14

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

I often use my imagination to picture heaven. I take visuals from this world, from art that I love, I think about what the Bible says about heaven, and just sit there with my eyes closed and imagine what it is going to be like…

I think the fruit we are going to eat in heaven is going to blow our mind! I think it is going to be sweeter and juicer than anything we’ve had on earth. I close my eyes and see Jesus watching me go to taste a heavenly strawberry for the first time. He’s bent over with excitement, grinning from ear to ear, because He already knows how good this strawberry is going taste. I take a bite and say something utterly ridiculous like “shut the front door!” Jesus and I laugh and laugh, the kind of deep, intimate, belly laugh you do with your best friend.

Now in my imagination, I am sitting by the river of life that John describes in Revelation chapter twenty-two, water as clear as crystal flowing from the throne of God. I’m sitting on a bench underneath the tree of life and guess who’s sitting next me? That’s right, Jesus. Oh, and did I mention when He sat down He handed me the best. cup. of. coffee. ever.

We sit there and I talk his ear off like my five-year old daughter does. I think the greatest gift you can give my daughter is one-on-one time. When she has your undivided attention, she will talk a blue streak. Homegirl is not lacking in words or ideas. She gets that naturally. I am exactly the same. 

So Jesus and I are sitting on the bench and I ask him all the questions. He laughs and answers. I sit there astonished by His goodness, kindness, and attention to detail.

After a while of eating fruit, drinking coffee, and chatting with Jesus, He gives me that grin that my heart is so familiar with. And I know He is about to invite me to something really good. He nudges me to stand up and we start walking. I see trees up ahead and I catch a glimpse of twinkling lights. As we get closer I just start to cry joyous, happy tears.

I know, I know, Revelation says there will be no more tears in heaven.  But if you know me well, you know I cry all. the. time. Most are tears of joy and an overwhelming sense of gratitude. You guys. God has just been so so good to me. I can’t handle it.

Well I start to cry heavenly-joyful-tears because I see them… My people. Family and friends that have passed away. This is the moment of being reunited. We are all together again. Healed, whole, no more pain, no more brokenness, fully restored and redeemed, wearing our brand new perfect heavenly bodies.

We are all together. And God is with us.

Photography by The Beautiful Mess.

Behind our house is a spot I call The Dwelling Place. It’s this beautiful canopy of trees that has the effect of drawing you in. This is the spot where I imagine the great-heaven-family-reunion taking place. I see twinkle lights in the trees, picnic tables covered in food, and my entire family laughing and celebrating.

The dwelling place makes me think of the Garden of Eden.  Genesis 8 says that Adam and Eve heard the Lord walking in the garden in the cool of the day.

The Gospel of John says “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

And finally in Revelation we read “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”

From the beginning, in the middle, and to the end, there is God, dwelling with us. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.

I cannot wait to see my family in heaven and to eat perfect fruit, but most of all I cannot wait to see my Savior face to face. I cannot wait to be fully in His presence day and night. I am so excited to get to heaven! But I agree with Paul… “I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.”

Philippians 1:23-24

Our pastor John Mark taught an incredible message about having an eternal perspective this past weekend. He spoke so much good truth, but one thing pierced my soul. He said, “No one else is coming. You are the light.”

So often we cry out to God “Why aren’t you doing something?”

Matthew West’s song “Do Something” came to mind. 

Here are a few of the lyrics:

I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now, thought
How'd we ever get so far down, and
How's it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, "God, why don't You do something?"
Well, I just couldn't bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, "God, why don't You do something?"
He said, "I did. I created you."

Friends, this is it, right here. You, me, every believer alive today - WE are the light of the world.

Photography by The Beautiful Mess.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

This world we live in is hard and broken. Bad things happen. I want the Lord to come back so bad. I pray Revelation 22:20 all the time “Come, Lord Jesus.” But until everyone in the world is saved, I am grateful for the Lord’s patience.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

Like John Mark said on Sunday, “We need to be fixated on filling up heaven, and emptying out hell.” Is it our responsibility to save people’s souls? Are we that powerful? Of, course not.  Jesus says in John 6:44, "The only way people come to me is by the Father who sent me—he pulls on their hearts to embrace me. And those who are drawn to me, I will certainly raise them up in the last day.”

It is important to remember that we are not the world's Savior, BUT we are co-workers in God's service, we are God's masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. We are co-heirs with Christ. We have each been created on purpose, for purpose.

Ashton, Hank’s mom said something at her little boy’s funeral that I will never forget, she said, “I think we were created by God. Not boomed. Not accidentally or coincidentally. Sewn together with intentionality, purpose, and desire. We have a Creator who makes us.” She went on to share the faith story of why they circumcised their son when he was eight days old. When she insisted on going back into the procedure room, her mother said she was strong for being willing to witness it and Ashton said “I am his mother. I do not have a right to put my fears first anymore. Now, I get to be whatever they need me to become.”

Friends, we do not have the right to put our fears first anymore. If this precious mama can do the absolute hardest thing I can think of, then so can we. We get to become what the world needs.

Allow me to narrow in on what “the world” is – it is the people that God has placed in your life. It is your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors. If you have Christ in you, then the people around you need the love and hope you’ve found. Go and be the light.

Three practical ways that we can become heavenly-minded people:

• FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS.

In Hebrews chapter twelve, we are told “since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.”

The AMP version says to “look away from all that will distract us and instead focus our eyes on Jesus.”

We can focus our eyes on Jesus through prayer, reading the Bible every day, and being in a community of believers that continually point us back to Jesus.

Here are a few Bible reading tips.

• BRING HEAVEN TO EARTH.

I have a friend when she walks into a grocery store, work, the post office, you name it, she thinks to herself,  “It is good for these people that I’m here.”  She is being a little silly, but mostly serious, without a touch of arrogance.  She makes this bold declaration based on the truth that Jesus is in her. And that is good news for the people she is around.  The same is true of us. I think the world would drastically change if we all lived with this kind of heavenly awareness.

I like what Bob Hazlett says in his book Think Like Heaven, “Love is the power to feel what God feels. Hope is the ability to see heavenly realms. Faith is the power to bring heaven to earth.”

We are made in the image of God, seated in heavenly places, let’s act like it.

• ADJUST YOUR PRIORITIES.

Here’s the thing when we are heavenly minded… It changes everything. It changes our perspective, which in turn changes our priorities. When we view things from heaven, instead of from here and now, we are able to step outside of our circumstances and see the big picture.

John Mark talked about this in his message. Here is the link, I urge to take a listen.

Photography by The Beautiful Mess.

I love the The Message paraphrase of Romans 12:1-2

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

This is how I adjust my priorities. I take my everyday, ordinary life, and ask God what matters? What will last? It’s in relationship with him, that I discover the details of how to prioritize my time, how to best serve people, how to use the talent he has given, and where to spend money.

This passage from Acts chapter three, has come to mind several times over the last few weeks… Peter and John were walking to church, when a man who had been lame since birth, asked them for money. Verse six Peter said, “’Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.”

We all have something to offer. In this moment, Peter did not have money to give the man, but he had prayer and faith. You have something to offer. You have been created with intentionality and purpose. You have been placed where you are for such a time as this. Go out into the world and be the person God created you to be, and don’t hold back.

Want to hear the rest of the lame man’s story?

Verse 8-10, “He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

They praised God. Want to know what we’re going to be doing in heaven? Praising God. Want to bring heaven to earth? Praise God.

“Since you’ll spend the next lifetime living in Heaven, why not spend this lifetime seeking Heaven, so you can eagerly anticipate and prepare for it?” From the book Heaven written by Randy Alcorn.

Yes please. Let’s seek heaven.

Resources:
• Francis Chan - Rope Illustration. This is an incredible perspective on eternity!!
• "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn. This is a very in-depth book, so if you like studying this one is for you!
If not, I'd suggest the kids version (even for adults!)

• "Think Like Heaven: Change Your Thinking, Change Your World" by Bob Hazlet. I LOVED this book!
• "You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity" by Francis and Lisa Chan

Homework:

• Read Hebrews chapters 11 and 12.

• Take a look at the different adjectives used in this passage. I've included a few different translations for you to look at. I'd suggest printing out these translations to take a closer look. 
What words stand out to you? What about this message resonates with you? What comes to your mind as you read the passage?  Do you feel God nudging you to do something?

Hebrews 12:1-2 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, 2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, 2 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].

Hebrews 12:1-3 The Message (MSG)
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Hebrews 12:1-2 The Passion Translation (TPT)
As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us. 2 We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!