Mind on Jesus

Our church picnic was yesterday. The weather was cool and windy. The races were fun to watch, as were the children racing around trying to catch the “candyman” with a pail of goodies and chocolate bars stuck to his coveralls. The food was cold and the bathroom a good five-minute walk from our site. Today’s Scripture was a chuckle:

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1–2)

It was not difficult to set my mind on things above yesterday. I wanted to go home and read my Bible — or was that setting my mind on getting warmed up? Piper’s devotional says this about summer: “flight from (Jesus) into Christ-less leisure makes the soul parched. At first it may feel like freedom and fun to skimp on prayer and neglect the Word, but then we pay: shallowness, powerlessness, vulnerability to sin, preoccupation with trifles, superficial relationships, and a frightening loss of interest in worship and the things of the Spirit.”

I didn’t want to flee Jesus and enjoy summer yesterday but a warning is good. Summer holds much that we miss in the dead of winter. I planted garden seeds last week and bedding plants, visited my next-door neighbor for two hours, and loafed more than usual. However, God has a way of reminding me of important things. One of our friends is having serious surgery today. His wife is worried sick. I’d prayed a bit, but when opening a search engine this morning, the photo on it was a place where these two had lived most of their early lives. God reminded me to pray fervently because our friend is in surgery right now.

Not only that, Piper reminds me that seeking things above means equating the delights of summer with the age to come. While God says, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9) He wants me to focus on what I do know. We have perfections here, some days, yet not one “sun-soaked, tree-green, flower-blooming, lake-glistening” day of summer can compare with being with Jesus in a perfect environment with: 

“. . . .  the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:1–5)

The short descriptions of that eternal place describe no more sorrow or tears. If our friend survives this surgery, he will be glad, yet if Jesus takes him home, his joy and delight cannot be described — only that one day we will be together in that indescribable place. In the meantime, we are to focus on the One who is there, and who takes care of all things here. Summer is a small glimpse, no doubt totally inadequate to show us our future hope. 

Even so, the tall trees, the thick undergrowth, blue sky and especially the camaraderie of our Christian family make it easier to think of the perfection that is promised. 

PRAY: Thank You Jesus for reminding me to pray for our friend and for many things that cry for Your attention in this world. It is not heaven here, nor heaven yet, but You do hear and answer prayer. You make thoughts of things above easier and far more important than taking a ‘time out’ from eternal matters. For that, I am grateful.  

Guard Thoughts

That computer saying ‘garbage in, garbage out’ is sometimes applied to the human mind. If I watch X-rated movies, read garbage novels, listen to sorrowful music, and so on, my moods and behavior will be affected. God knows this and tells me:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Satan knows it too. One of his tactics is to get my mind off what Christ has done and is doing for me, and think about negatives, like bad things that happen, injustice, impurities and  ugly stuff that is not worth the effort, and any of his lies about everything. He wants me complaining and looking at my failures with huge doubts that I am a Christian. This is why one piece of spiritual armor is a helmet: “Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God . . . .” (Ephesians 6:17) Protect what goes on in my head!

The Roman soldier’s helmet was designed to deflect blows aimed at his head — especially the potentially lethal blow of a broadsword that could crush his skull. To protect us from Satan’s crushing blows, this piece of armor is vital lest we start thinking his way instead of relying on the Word of God.

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

The helmet of salvation is described as “the hope of salvation” implying that Satan’s most powerful blows are directed at the believer’s assurance and security. As a new Christian, I struggled a bit with the idea that I was not a Christian because Satan tricked me into measuring myself by my failures. Later, he pushed into my head any concept that took me away from God’s promises.

However, God persisted to show me that I am secure in Christ. He used His Word to help me keep my head on straight with verses like these:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:27–28)

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:29–30)

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

He also used this logic: eternal life is eternal, meaning it has no ending and cannot be taken away. Also, my salvation was not based on my performance, thus my performance cannot change the fact of it. Repeatedly, the love of God assured me that I belong to Him. This security did not produce a silly ‘I can do whatever I want’ but a desire to be more like Christ, more like He called me to be. This is why I can say the enemy cannot rob me of the joy and assurance of knowing I belong to Christ. I might slide sideways now and then, but the Lord will never let me go. All discouragement and doubt are deflected by knowing I am secure in Christ. This is the point of wearing armor!

PRAY: Jesus, You are the eternal God who makes me eternally secure. You hold me in Your hand and declare I am part of Your Body. You also said that You keep all that the Father gave You. You live forever to intercede for me. Your salvation is complete, based on Your love and sacrifice. You died for me even when I was still a sinner, and You will finish what You started. One day I will stand before You face to face and be like You because that is Your promise to me. I praise You for this amazing eternal security!

PONDER: again John 6:37–40 and rejoice that my God has done this for me and for all His children.