DAY 13: Practice "Heaven Culture" Here on Earth

DAY 13

Reflections on Ephesians: DAY 1/ DAY 2 / DAY 3 / DAY 4 / DAY 5 / DAY 6

Reflections on Philippians: DAY 7 / DAY 8 / DAY 9 / DAY 10

Reflections on Colossians: DAY 11, DAY 12

Worship Meditation: Blessed to be a Blessing by Lara Martin, Hear our Praises by Darlene Zschech, and You Are Lord of Heaven by Randy Rothwell

Reading: Colossians 3

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. - Colossians 3:2

AMP Version: Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].

Do you believe that you are a citizen of heaven and that earth is just our temporary destination? One of the things that really helped me in my grief when my dad died was knowing that heaven exists. And if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, to be absent in the body simply means to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8) 

Guys, heaven is real. I hope we all believe that in our hearts to be true. There are many jokes and misconceptions about heaven. Maybe it's a boring place. Are we just gonna lie in the clouds all day? Will we be singing and dancing all the time? Will I no longer enjoy what I enjoy here on earth? (These are honest questions someone asked me once.)

Let me bust all of those myths. Heaven is an exciting place. I have read Kat Kerr's books Revealing Heaven Parts I & II, and trust me, you will want to be there. I won't be able to mention all the amazing things she has written there, but here's a teaser of why we would want to be there:

We all have mansions in heaven that are created specifically according to our true dreams and desires. No mansion is the same because we all have unique quirks and interests and God takes all of those into consideration when He designs our mansions. We will also get to do the things we loved the most when we were on the earth in heaven - and this blew my mind! If you are a filmmaker, a songwriter, a baker, an artist, whatever your passion is here on earth, you get to do in Heaven without the limitations that earth has! So imagine what you can create? She even mentioned that there is a Pizza Place in heaven and the owner was a guy whose passion was making pizzas when he was still living on earth! How cool is that?

Have you seen Disney's Encanto? You know how every member of the family receives a "gift" at a certain age and then they open a door that leads to a room that is unique to them and their gift? Something like that, I think! 

Believe me when I say Heaven is Real. And because heaven is real, that gives us a goal while here on earth ~ GO TO HEAVEN WHEN YOU HAVE FULFILLED YOUR DESTINY ON EARTH. 

Now, while we are here on earth, Colossians 3 is trying to tell us to start practicing Heaven Culture. Being Heavenly Minded while here on earth is hard work, but because this is what God commands of us, we know that He will provide us the grace we need to succeed in it.

Let's first start by answering why we need to be Heavenly Minded. Colossians 3:1 says "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand." And then in verses 3 to 4, "For you died to this life and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory."

Christ's act of sacrifice has united us to Him, and it only follows that if He is in Heaven, then we are to be in Heaven. That's a given. There is only one sure-fire way to not go there, and that is to reject Christ. Nothing can separate us from the love of God, but only a constant and stubborn rejection of His love would lead you to eternal damnation. 

So...how can we practice Heaven Culture? Here are some of the things mentioned in Colossians 3. 

1. Put to death sinful, earthly things within you. (Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. - v 5)

2. Don't worship the things of this world. (Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshipping the things of this world. - v5)

3. Don't let your emotions lead you to sin. (But now is the time to get rid of anger, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. - v8)

4. Put on your New Nature where Christ is all that matters. (Be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him. - vv 10-11)

5. Be merciful/forgiving, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. v 12

6. Make allowance for each other's faults (Forgive anyone who offends you. Remember the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. v 13)

7. Be loving. (Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. v 14.)

8. Remember that you are God's Representative. (Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative if the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. v 17)

These eight items are all doable and yet I personally struggle with many of them. This is why we need the grace of God. But remember, God will not ask impossible things from us. All we need to do is pray and ask that He gives us the grace to develop Heaven's culture in our lives. We will stumble, but we will keep trying because God is worth it, and to be one with Jesus Christ in Heaven is our goal. 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, was ask for the grace we need today and every day to set our mind on the things of heaven, not the things on earth. As we live our lives here on earth and fulfill the divine destiny You have given us, help us to practice Heaven Culture. Give us the grace we need to put to death sinful and earthly things in us, destroy all our idols, guide our emotions that it won't lead us to sin. Help us always to put on our New Nature. Teach us to be merciful, kind, humble, gentle, and patient for this is Your will for us. May we always forgive one another as You forgive us and help us lead a life full of love. May I always be reminded that  I do everything here on earth as God's Representative ~ and may the life we live lead more people to salvation. Amen.