LifeLink Devotions for Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Today we come to the final theological truth the Apostle Paul describes in Philippians chapter three as it relates to the experience of enduring joy. Here’s what He says.

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

In the previous verse Paul described people who live as enemies of the cross of Jesus Christ. But note carefully. They are not described as enemies, but they live like they are. They may even be Christians. They are identified by three characteristics: they pursue the pleasures and gratification of this world, they find satisfaction in shameful things, and their minds are focused on what this world can offer them. And while these pursuits may satisfy them in the flesh for a moment, their lives will end in destruction.

But we who are running the race of life for the glory of Jesus and living according to His truth can rejoice that our citizenship is in heaven and not of this earth, and that Jesus is coming soon to take us to Himself and transform us into His likeness in a glorified body.

There is a big difference between Christians who are living for the pleasures of this life and those who have their hearts and minds set on heaven. People who have their minds fixed on this world are fearful of giving it all up when Jesus returns. They secretly desire that Jesus not come back until they get to experience one more thing in the world or accomplish one more goal. They invest their time, energy, and resources into what this world can give them, believing that peace and joy are experienced only through worldly success. They are building up treasures for themselves in this live, and they will all eventually be lost.

But those who have their hearts set on their citizenship in heaven will be filled with enduring joy that can never be lost. They invest their time, energy, and resources into eternal things where they can never fade, tarnish, or be destroyed. They have their treasure in heaven where their citizenship is, and it is being safeguarded by the eternal King.

Someday, maybe even today, Jesus is returning to this earth to transform our imperfect, failing, lowly bodies into the likeness of His glorious eternal body and we will be with Him forever. If you want to know the fulness of joy, start investing your life in that promised eternal life and resist the urge to keep building your nest egg on this earth.

Pastor John