So Heavenly Minded You're No Earthly Good?

"Don't be so heavenly minded that you're of no earthly good." Have you ever heard that expression before? It is a lie from the pit of hell. More accurately, don't be so earthly minded that you're of no heavenly good.

Jesus said to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all the things you need will be added to you (Matthew 6:33). The writer of Hebrews said to desire a heavenly city. "For here [on earth] we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come" (13:14).

Paul wrote to the Galatians to hold to the promise of the Jerusalem from above (4:26). And he told the Colossians, "If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:1-4).

When your hope is in Christ and His kingdom, nothing else will satisfy. Sin won't be as tempting. The world's attractions won't be as attractive. Earning the world's favor won't matter. You will desire to please your King and share the message of His kingdom, so others might believe and be saved. This world will perish in judgment, but the followers of Jesus will inherit His kingdom.

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18), when we understand the text.