HEAVENWARD

By Rick Mathes

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

The Word teaches that we perish for lack of knowledge. I consider it a choice to be uninformed. Never in the history of mankind hs there been such access to knowledge as we now enjoy.

Each of us must follow a Paul and bring along a student like Timothy. The brain is a terrible thing to waste. No one can rob your mind if you have the mind of Christ. Satan cannot touch you. Pauls keys to knowledge were threefold:

1. Forget the past. When you die to the flesh you are dead to the flesh. You can get the corpse of a mighty sinner, stuff his nose with cocaine, pour a bottle of Jack Daniels down his throat and throw a naked prostitute on him and he won’t even flutter an eyelid. He’s dead. Don’t drag a dead body along with you nor look back. Remember Lot’s wife?
2. Reach for future things: Follow the yellow brick road to glory. There is a highway to heaven if front of you littered with blessings and good things only a loving Father would provide.
3. Press on toward the prize. The very words of God guarantee that we are predestined and elect. The very words of God guarantee that we are predestined and elect. If you were God, what would you do with sinful you? If you had to impose on you what you really deserve what would you have coming to you? Now consider that you have not received what you really deserve. This is a cause for a life of thanksgiving and anticipation of His return.

How can we express our joy as we travel heavenward? We must be ambassadors of Christ so that when people get to know us they get to know the Lord. We need to let go and let God. When Jesus is sovereign in your life Satan and all the fallen angels shake in the smoldering boots.

I can hear the hoof-beats, the trumpet is about to sound, the Lord’s return is nearer than we think. It’s time to look for Jesus. In the Primitive Church, when they had services they always had a “spotter” outside looking up for Christ to return. They expected Him any minute! It wouldn’t hurt to have that same expectancy today!