Focus on Things Above

In our fast-paced, attention-grabbing world, it is easy to get caught up in the daily grind, get distracted, and lose sight of our true purpose in life. With the holiday season approaching, I wanted to encourage you to focus on things above and not so much on the things of this world such as the election results and the perfect gift. It is so easy to get sidetracked and wander off course these days.

But as followers of Christ, our focus is to be on the things of Heaven. That is where a Follower of Christ’s citizenship is. This world is only our temporary abode.

“But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” –  Phil 3:20 AMP

Our  heavenly Abba tells us where our focus is to be:

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”  – Col 3:1-3

Jesus said You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.“– Mat 22:37

In the book of Hebrews we are told to run our race with our eyes focused on Christ.

“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”  Heb 12:1–2

Perhaps the following may be what you are focusing on at the moment:

  • The world is falling apart
  • We are on the brink of war…
  • My world is falling apart…
  • I have issues at work, with kids, health, parents…
  • I can hardly make ends meet…

But God tells us:

 Therefore do not worry, … For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” – Mat 6:31-33 (emphisis added)

Satan the Enemy

However, Satan, our enemy is an expert at using diversion tactics and the allure of the world to keep us focused on anything and everything but God. We all have struggled with allowing Satan to use many tactics to keep us distracted such as:

  • Video games
  • Social Media
  • Sports
  • Politics
  • Work
  • Hobbies
  • Religion
  • And so many other things…

Keep in Mind:

Sometimes our best intentions, even what we may be DOING for the kingdom may steal us away from spending our time and focus on BEING with Jesus.

Many celebrate the Lord’s birth. However, the Lord never said we needed to celebrate His birth. But Jesus did add a new celebration at His last Passover meal with His Desciples which we call Communion.

Focus on Celebrating Christ’s Return

Communion was a way to celebrate and remind us that the Lord Jesus Christ is returning SOON to set up His Kingdom! How many of us spend time focusing and/or celebrating His soon return? It is interesting to note that according to “The Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy” by J. Barton Payne, there are:

  • 1,239 prophecies in the Old Testament and
  • 578 prophecies in the New Testament for a total of 1,817.
  • These prophecies are contained in 8,352 of the Bible’s verses.
  • Since there are 31,124 verses in the Bible, 26.8 percent of the Bible’s verses are predictive prophecies.

Jesus Christ conservatively fulfilled at least 300 prophecies with His First Coming. However, there are more that speak of His Second Coming.

You may be surprised to learn that:

  • References to the Second Coming outnumber references to the First Coming by a factor of 8 to 1.
  • Scholars have identified 1,845 different biblical references to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
  • No less than 17 books mention Christ’s return in the Old Testament.
  • The New Testament authors speak of it in 23 of the 27 books.
Focus

Focus on Our Conquering King

Of all the books in our Bible, God decided Revelation was the perfect book for the ending. Why?

Because it leaves us as Followers of Christ with what we need to focus on and what this world needs most… HOPE! This is only found in the revelation of who Jesus Christ is and what He will accomplish soon…

Our precious Savior already told us we would have trouble in this world…

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows [tribulation, trouble, suffering, distress, affliction]. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding, I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] – John 16:33 NLT with AMP added.

However, in the first chapter of Revelation we see our conquering King, Jesus Christ as He truly is… the WORD of GOD! The Great I AM…

Revelation One-Jesus Christ as He truly Is

In the very first chapter of Revelation verse 5, we read that Jesus IS THE:

  • Faithful witness,
  • Firstborn from the dead,
  • Ruler over the kings of the earth.
  • ONE who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.

Then we read in verses 7-8 of who He is and His return.

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

John Describes His Appearance

John describes His appearance in verses 13-16:

  • 13 clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
  • 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow.
  • His eyes were like flames of fire.
  • 15 His feet were like fine brass as if refined in a furnace.
  • His voice was like the sound of many waters.
  • 16 … out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword,
  • His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

Then The Lord Encourages Us

  • 17 “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
  • 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.
  • And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

Moreover, He gives us a glimpse of our eternal home in the last two chapters of Revelation.

How to Focus on Things Above

As we discussed earlier it is a crafty trick of Satan to keep our focus off of Christ and His return. It makes his job so much easier. Don’t help him accomplish his goal of destroying what God loves. This is spiritual warfare, and your mind is the battleground. Satan is defeated and we need to remind him and ourselves of that fact. Some of the ways to stay focused on Our Lord’s soon return is:

  • Feeding yourself with the Word of God!
  • Post scripture verses that encourage you around your home or workplace.
  • Be careful of what you allow inside the Temple of God (through your 5 senses).
  • Don’t let your guard down by taking your armor off.
  • Guard your heart and mind which is Satan’s playground.
  • Take those thoughts captive and speak the Word to Satan.
  • Remind the demonic world, out loud, they have already lost, and their sentence will be soon carried out.
    • Remember they can’t read your mind…
  • Then go forth and conquer by spreading the Word that Jesus is the world’s only Hope.

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in Colossians:

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” – Colossians 3:1–4

Moreover, Paul told us in 2 Timothy:

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” – 2 Timothy 4:8 (emphisis added)

Other versions explain the meaning a bit clearer:

  • Complete Jewish Bible , but also to all who have longed for him to appear.
  • International Standard Version, but also to all who eagerly wait for his appearing.
  • The Living Bible, but to all those whose lives show that they are eagerly looking forward to his coming back again.

In Conclusion

Perhaps as you celebrate His birth this year, it would be advantageous to focus on the soon returning King of kings and Lord of lords.

The Second Coming

12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me,
to give to everyone according to his work.
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”

But First The Rapture!
1 Thes 4:13-18

BTW for followers of Jesus Christ… It is not a child’s fairy tail… we do live happily ever after …

Maranatha!
Until next time I am Passionately Loving Jesus, the Anchor of my soul!

Featured Image by Ethereaum from Pixabay

Your respectful thoughts and opinions are welcomed.