City Life Starter

Written by Scott Fiddler

The Word

But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

2 Peter 3:13

Reflection

I feel like a contrarian.

It seems each time over the last few weeks the CLC Starter Team has been given Scripture and a topic, I am compelled to write the first post of the week about its opposite. We were supposed to write about community, and I led with Jeffrey Dahmer. We were supposed to write about hope, and I wrote about fear. Then last week we were supposed to write about compassion, and I wrote about death.

But the Bible says, “It is good that you grasp one thing while not letting go of the other; for one who fears God comes out with both of them.” Ecclesiastes 7:18. Fearing God forces one to subordinate their own ideas or desires and accept what His Word says, not what we want it to say.

Our topic this week is eternity. But Jesus said very little about heaven. He talked about entering into eternal life (e.g. John 3:16), but beyond that and a reference to their being plenty of room (John 14:2) and rewards for what we do on earth (Matthew 5:12; Luke 6:20), He didn’t say much about heaven. I think that is significant.

When One comes from a place no person has ever seen but every person has wondered about since the dawn of creation, and all He does is essentially affirm it exists, we should take note. What Jesus said is more revealing in its omission. 

Instead of describing heaven and telling stories about how wonderful it is, Jesus focused on what we were to do while on earth. He prayed to the Father regarding His disciples, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world . . . As You have sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world.” John 17:15a, 18. 

Then in a commissioning that would define their purpose and that of all believers who would follow, Jesus told His disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . ” Matthew 28:18. Our home may be in heaven, but our mission is on the earth.

At the same time, recognizing our home is in heaven and death is not the end liberates us to risk all for King Jesus on the earth. The same promise that motivated the martyrs of the first century in refusing to renounce Jesus and accept death, frees the believers of the 21st century to embrace Jesus and die daily to become a blessing for others.

Application

One can be so heavenly minded they are no earthly good, and one can be so earthly minded they are no earthly good. To be good for the earth, we must be cognizant of heaven because the assurance of eternity enables us to live with obedient abandon to King Jesus on the earth. 

Prayer

Lord, as I submit to You, please make me a blessing to others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.