A vast amount of money is spent each year by individuals seeking help with looking as good as the model who lives next door, or they see at work. Surgeries are performed to correct visible defects, so that individuals will look as good, or better than, the ideal body pictured in their minds. However, God teaches us through His servant Paul, to live life in anticipation of our new home in heaven, and our physical Master that we will spend eternity with. Let’s meditate on how well we do each day in preparing for our new homeland, and our glorious Lord!

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-12-19
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

BY: Ed Algreen 

SCRIPTURE FROM: Philippians 3:20-21
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: 20 But we are citizens of heaven and are eagerly waiting for our Savior to come from there. Our Lord Jesus Christ 21 has power over everything, and he will make these poor bodies of ours like his own glorious body.

APPLICATION: In addressing this challenge from the Scripture today, I believe I can say like the T-Shirt – ‘been there and done that’!! For I accepted Jesus as my Savior many years ago, and I have developed a keen sense of the awesome power and unconditional love shown towards me by my Savior over the years. In 1987 I immigrated to the USA from my birth-country, the Bahamas. So, I have an earthly glimpse of what it might be like to transition from the US to Heaven, whenever I am called upon by God for my final mission. But I feel like there is more to the reason Paul wanted to challenge believers on this subject. First let’s look at the verbiage he used. One can often identify your original citizenship. Normally it’s your dialect, but it might be in your mannerisms or in the examples you use during conversations, or even in the foods you like. So, when Paul reminds us to reflect on our citizenship, I believe he is saying that we must act, speak, and respond to situations like citizens of our home country might tend to do. Friends, in short – there should never be a question in someone’s mind about who our principles, values and reactions are guided by. If it appears to someone that we may be saved, but then questions arise regarding our motives or actions, then there is reason to question our salvation. Should this happen, let me encourage you to return to the cross and seek God’s forgiveness, for you may have certainly not acted the part that you promised – to imitate His character, His teachings, and His commands. I believe it’s as simple as; if we are a child of God, then we act like a child of God. Of course, these actions are taught throughout God’s Word, so we should delve into this precious Book daily, for our direction, our wisdom, and our word from God on whatever we may face that day. When we prepare for our day, it’s like preparing for the heat of battle – for how we might respond, or act in the heat of battle. When the accountant says, “You’re bankrupt”; when the doctor says, “It’s cancer”; when your boyfriend says, “Goodbye,” what do we say? Our speech, our conversation will reveal whether we’re men and women who live for the material, the temporal, the earthly—or whether we are those who live for heaven – singularly. Friends, we are reminded by Paul that our eternal home is Heaven – it’s where God the Father, and His Son Jesus resides; It’s described in Revelation as a place where the streets are made of pure gold, the gates of jasper and there’s a home especially prepared just for us! It’s where believers will spend eternity! It’s a dashing place that we all should be anxious about knowing if it will be ours for all eternity! Paul also reminds us that heaven is a place where plastic surgery is no longer required, for we will have glorious bodies – just like the One that we will see when our eyes are opened to see Jesus in person! Do you suppose we could ever be contained here on earth if we truly lived in anticipation of what lies ahead for us? Paul wants us to live in that type of anticipation and excitement, for our call to glory can come at literally any moment!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: No matter what we live in here on earth, it will be nothing compared to the glories of Heaven and the place prepared for us there! No matter who we look up to here on earth, no one can compare to the One who waits for our arrival in Heaven! I am so blessed in being reminded of my future joy, that I want to live each day here on earth in anticipation of what’s to come!

PRAYER: Thank You Jesus for saving my soul, thank You for making me whole, complete, and filled with joy because of all that You have done for me! I glory in all that You have prepared for me, and the excitement of all that I can expect when we see you in Heaven! Please Lord, help my readers, listeners and I to always live now for what we have been promised in heaven when we unite in glory with You. Help us to always look to You when things become more challenging than we could hope to overcome, for we know that with You, we are more than conquerors. Be glorified today, Lord, and if it is up to us, please help us to ensure that You are glorified through us in the words we speak and in our interaction with others. AMEN!