The things that we should see
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August 11, 2013 |
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 "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2).
Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee
For the most part, people of the world seek wealth, fame, and power on this earth. They consider such things most valuable. But we who are saved are looking up to the glory of Heaven into which we will later enter. Also, we set our minds on the Father God who has prepared the heavenly kingdom for us. For this reason we live God-centered lives, thinking of the things that God wants and what pleases Him.
As said in Psalm 62:5, "My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him," God fulfills our hope when we look up to Him only. He fills our lives with great blessings on this earth and great honor in Heaven. Then, let's delve into what kinds of blessings we can receive when we set our mind only on God.
1. Those who look up to God receive blessings in body and spirit
The unbelievers must be prepared for the future that is uncertain and unstable. Though they might have wealth and honor right now, nobody knows when such things will disappear. On the contrary, God's children set their minds on God alone, so God fulfills their needs.
As Proverbs 10:22 says, "It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it," the wealth that is gained through human methods by relying on people can be lost in a moment, but the blessing given to those believers whose soul prospers, is never shaken.
Of course, looking up to God alone does not mean we don't do the things that we are supposed to do on this earth. We have to be faithful in what we are supposed to do according to justice, but we can enjoy peace by relying on God and not on our own ability or other people.
Those who set their minds on God alone always seek what God wants and try to fulfill it. If you love somebody, you will be interested in what the other person wants, and his/her tastes. In a spiritual sense, those who look up to their dear God always think of the ways to please Him.
Even though there might be some situations that cause discomfort or anger, they change their feelings into good thoughts, thinking that God would not like them to have such feelings. Furthermore, they pull out the nature of anger itself from their hearts. Thinking that God would be grieved, they try their best to cast away the mindsets of envy, jealousy, greed and adultery. They try to humble themselves, sacrifice themselves, and serve others. They do not seek their own. As they try this way, they quickly cast off darkness and come forth into the Light.
As said, for those who set their minds on God, they are in health and prosper in all things even as their souls prosper (3 John 1:2). They do not get sick nor become poverty-stricken. They are blessed when they come in or go out, and they become the head and not the tail. As they change into spirit and whole spirit, they receive the blessing to subdue and rule over physical things.
2. For those who look up to God alone, New Jerusalem is guaranteed
For those who have learned the holiness gospel, our goal is not just the heavenly kingdom, but the most glorious heavenly dwelling place, New Jerusalem. Numerous people have received salvation since the creation, but only a few have been able to enter New Jerusalem.
Since in this end time when darkness is very thick, even if some have believed in the Lord and have received the Holy Spirit, their salvation is not secure unless they are spiritually awake. The cultures of the world are being flooded with obscene and filthy things, and what we can see and hear is full of the things that pollute our spirit.
As a shepherd who is guiding the flock in this sinful world, I have tried to lead the members to New Jerusalem by all means. I am urging them again and again to enter through the narrow gate. I am asking them diligently to gather every day, not to cease to pray, to learn the Word of God, not to watch TV or movies, to cast off all forms of evil, and to purify their body and mind so that they will not have any lust between men and women.
They have been running towards New Jerusalem, but some of them think the goal seemed too far away for them. Others might have thought, "How can a person like me go there? My efforts seem to be in vain." Or still others might have been disheartened in other ways.
However, New Jerusalem is no longer some unreachable goal, but it is a clear goal that we must achieve. Here, the important thing is our own effort. If we just try to ride on the flow of spirit, we can change at a very high speed. I hope you will quickly cast away the perishing, fleshly things, looking up to God alone. Then, your souls will prosper, and New Jerusalem will be guaranteed for you.
3. Those who set their minds on God alone become precious people
Mary Magdalene was very weak with illnesses and she lived a difficult life before she met the Lord. Nobody really cherished her. It seemed she had no value in her life. Such a despised woman became such an honorable person after meeting Jesus.
Matthew was a tax-collector who was hated and despised by his own people. But when he offered his life to Jesus, he became one of the precious twelve apostles. Peter was just an uneducated fisherman, but he became the foremost of the twelve and a powerful apostle after meeting Jesus.
You might have failed to feel the value that you have. It may have been that nobody really cared for you, or it might have seemed that you were inferior to so many others. You might feel you are nothing because you do not have enough money, your appearance does not seem good enough to you, or you lack knowledge or a good background.
But even though we might have lived such a lowly life in the world, the value of our life will be completely different if we meet the Lord. We can become children of the LORD God almighty who created the heavens and the earth. It means we will become princes and princesses. For this reason, for those of us who are saved, guardian angels are assigned to us to protect us 24 hours a day. If we look up to God alone, they protect us so thoroughly that no darkness can come near us.
Also, wherever we go and whatever we do, God is paying attention to us. When Koreans express the love of parents for their children, it is said that it would not hurt even if you were to stick your children in your eyes. When babies smile making eye contact with the parents, the parents are so happy as if they gained the whole world. When the babies say 'mom and dad' for the first time, the parents leap with joy and exclamations. This is how God feels about us.
God deemed each of us so precious that He gave the life of His only begotten Son. He is waiting for us to come forth as spirit and whole spirit so earnestly that waiting a thousand years is like a day. When His children do not realize His love and commit sins dwelling in darkness, He suffers great pains.
On the contrary, if we please Him just a little bit by trying to practice the truth, He will try all His best to express greater love for us. God cherishes the aroma of our hearts that we offer up with our love for Him. God treasures each of our professions of love and each tear-drop that we shed longing for the spirit and in heavenly kingdom He will repay us for everything. If we just set our mind on God alone in our lives, God will cherish us and treasure us and make us precious.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, once your spirit leaves your body, soon you return to a handful of dust. As written in Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, all fleshly things are so meaningless and perishable. Thus, I hope you will set your mind on things above, not on the earth. In doing so, I pray in the name of the Lord that you will become God's precious children who completely receive all the spiritual and material blessings that God has prepared for you.
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