Have you ever had a night out planned and that’s all you can think about all day? I remember when my wife, Mary Ann, and I were dating, we had a favorite restaurant we would go to occasionally. It was called Joe Armelie’s Meating Place (yes Meating place not Meeting place) and I loved their prime rib. It was a journey to get there, and not the cheapest place we could go, but the food and service was worth the extra effort. On the days when I knew we were planning to go there, I would find my mind drifting and anticipating the experience. I could hardly wait.
Living in the kingdom of God means allowing our minds to be preoccupied with thoughts of God and His will. Hear the words of Paul describing the contrast between those whose citizenship is tied up with this earth versus those of us that are citizens of the kingdom of God:
“Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await our savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who…will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” (Philippians 3:19-21)
Now, I admit there were days I was preoccupied dreaming of prime rib, but as a citizen of heaven, what I really hunger and thirst for is the return of Christ, my King.
As human beings with families and jobs and countless responsibilities in our lives, we have to think about the affairs of this world, but they must never become our driving motivation, our hunger or our passions. As citizens of God’s kingdom, we deal with the issues of this world as part of serving Him, bringing Him glory, seeking our ultimate satisfaction in Him.
by Jim Caler
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