WEEKLY FOCUS ARCHIVE

Heaven On My Mind

May 4, 2005

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord". Those words are a compelling and clarion call to everyone regarding the importance of living the "sacramental life". This past Sunday we were walked through the significance, meaning, and spiritual exercise referred to as the Seder. The power of the visible expression of one's identification with God's acts in history was very profound. The ability of God's people to "look back" and at the same to know, presently, that God is at work in His people is of tremendous value to His followers. That God has "passed over" our sins and spared us the judgment we deserved is a great joy to the soul. The worship and celebration of the people of God grows out of a recognition that "we live and move and have our being" in Him alone.

The Seder, like other tangible remembrances which are celebrated in houses of worship around the globe each week are a call for us to remember that all we are and all we will ever be depends upon our recognition that in God alone do we find a hope, compass, and provision. Our spiritual exercises are physical metaphors for deep spiritual realities. In those moments we draw energy, passion, cleansing, and revitalization for our journey here on earth because of the knowledge that we as God's people are passing through this very temporary life and are moving toward our eternal destiny. These spiritual meals call us to live this present life in light of the promises of heaven. Further, in these moments we are reminded that aside from a hunger to live a "sacramental life" there is no real contentment, purpose, or ultimate meaning in the things we face each day. The ordinances we celebrate in the Christian church call us back to the story of all stories-that of God's drama and His work in His creation.

Until we come to the place where we view heaven as our primary goal and source of strength, we will struggle to find our bearings in all the challenges that life on this planet brings us. Life lived with the story of heaven in view is far more alluring, thrilling, and purpose-filled than anything we are offered by our present physical setting. That God commands our story knowing He has set heaven as our goal should give us rest and resolve in the midst of all we face. The ability to see and trust that God directs our plot is the surest means to emotional, mental, and spiritual help we can find. As any good actor will acknowledge, the Director of the art is the one to whom we must look for ultimate guidance. If we were able to view life from the Director's chair more often we could be assured moment by moment that every scene has a purpose.

Lastly, life viewed in light of the heavenly perspective is what enables us to leave an impact here on earth. The Church is the hope of the world. Historically, when the Church has kept her gaze upon the groom she has been most effective in bringing help and transformation for this troubled planet. As a Church we must keep our eyes fixed on our Director in order that He may tell His story through us. Our daily lives must be compelling stories for those looking on. C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, has written,

"Hope…means…a continual looking forward to the eternal…It does not mean
that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find
that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who
thought most of the next…It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of
the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven
and you will get the earth thrown in: aim at the earth and you will get neither".

And so it all comes down to this. Daily, in every decision, can those around you see your conviction to live life as an act of devotion to God? Would people be shocked to hear you say, "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord"? Or would those around you testify that they see you living your life with Heaven in viewing telling of the goodness of God's actions along the way?

Let us continue to pursue the symbols of remembrance we embrace in the Christian Church even as we continue to live moment by moment with the same kind of attention to God's working in our lives and His crafting His own story in and through us.
To find a compelling read on living with Heaven in view you may want to look at Dr. Wayne Martindale's book, Beyond the Shadowlands, which is a review of C.S. Lewis' exploration of Heaven in his writings.

Bruce Smith (Rev.)
Director of Development, Teaching Pastor
bruce@uptownchurch.net

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