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Considering my subject in connection with the theme, I have concluded that two ideas are set
before us. May we give thoughtful and prayerful consideration to them. (1). Jesus was heavenly
minded, that is He had His mind on heavenly things. (2). We are to be heavenly minded too,
because we are to be like minded or have the mind of Christ.
Jesus was in heaven from eternity. John 1:1. Then Jesus left heaven and come to this earth to
live (John 6:38). After a while, He left this earth and returned to heaven (Hebrews 9:24). These
truths are evident from the scriptures I have cited.
While He was here, His heavenly mind was on heavenly things. (1). In other words He had
heaven on His mind. He thought and talked about that glorious place where He had dwelt from
eternity. He told His disciples about the "mansions" that were there (John 14:2). He knew that He
would soon leave them and He wanted their minds to be comforted with thought of heaven. (2). He
thought about the prospects of being with His people in heaven. He died for us to save us from our
sins. He wanted us, the elect, to spend eternity in heaven. If left in our sins, that would be
impossible. When He prayed to the Father, He mentioned our being with Him in heaven (John
17:24). Some day, that will be our glorious reality. (3). He also wanted to be with His Father again
in Heaven. He had no doubt missed the glories of His hallowed presence (John 20:17). That
fellowship was on the mind of Christ as He was about to return to heaven. He shared these thoughts
with Mary and encouraged her to share them with His disciples.
From all that I have said and that has already been preached during this conference, it should be
very clear that the mind of Christ was and is indeed a heavenly mind. His was a mind that was filled
with heavenly things. This is the first part of my message as I see it.
Now we must move on to the second part, to understand that we are to have a mind like His. I
am convinced that all too often, that is not the way it is with us. All too often we are so wrapped up
in the lesser and vain things of this life, that we may give little or no thought to heavenly things. The
Bible mentions those who mind "earthly things" (Philippians 3:19). Don't we do that most of the
time? We are so preoccupied with living, working, socializing, recreating and other earthly interests;
that we may think of heavenly things only for the brief time we are at church. Even when we pray,
we most often seek natural blessings, not spiritual; right? Yet as we focus on the temporal to the
virtual exclusion of the heavenly, we are depriving ourselves of many joys and blessings.
God is good to us, dear people (Psalms 100:5). Every good thing we enjoy in life, from the food
on our tables to the love in our children's voices, are all blessings that God has given (James 1:17).
If we think about them and recognize these facts, we will be thankful to God for such benefits (1
Thessalonians 5:18). But we still miss many blessings when we do not think about heaven. You
see, of all the gracious blessings from God's bountiful hands, heaven is by far the greatest.
Therefore, Jesus taught us to have a heavenly mind, if we are to have the mind of Christ (Philippians
2:5). We are not to be HIGHMINDED (Romans 11:20) but we are to be HEAVENLY MINDED
(Hebrews 11:15).
God recognized that there is a warfare in our minds (Romans 7:23). On the one hand our minds
are drawn to the earth and earthly things. Then our minds are drawn to heaven and heavenly things.
Where ever our treasure is, there will our heart be most of the time (Matthew 6:21). Yet there is
really no comparison between the earthly and heavenly. It all comes down to the CARNAL or
SPIRITUAL thoughts. When we have a heavenly mind, we have heaven's LAWS in earthly MINDS
(Hebrews 8:10). And to those laws grows an alligence and desire for the Source- God, and the place
of that Source- heaven.
Therefore, Jesus taught us to think with a heavenly mind. He taught us by the best method, that
of EXAMPLE. Jesus is after all our only perfect example (John 13:15). When He taught His
disciples and us to pray, He used what our "program committee" called TELECOPIC VISION. I like
that idea because it helps me to think about heavenly mindedness as looking through a telescope to
that which is in the distance and drawing it close where I can see it more clearly. Jesus said, with
telescopic vision, "Thy kingdom come" (Matthew 6:10). In reality, we look beyond the HERE AND
NOW to see the HEREAFTER. That is what a heavenly mind does for us.
It means that like Christ, we also think about: (1). Heaven. Perhaps not many do so any more,
but we should. We need to think about the place to which we are going. Paul not only thought about
heaven, but it was his conversation (Philippians 3:20). Cultivate a heavenly mind by taking more
time to think about heaven. (2). God's children. Jesus thought about us being with Him. We should
think about the fact that heaven is not just for you or me, it is for all the saved of God. All God's
children will be there, without the loss of even one. What a joy to again be with saints who have
preceeded me in death. I recall their memories with great joy, remembering how we served in the
church together. I have family now with me who will also be there. What a wonderful time that will
be. Paul reminded us of how it will be when the Lord Jesus comes again (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
Won't it be wonderful? (3). Christ. When we get to heaven, one of our greatest joys will be to enjoy
the personal fellowship of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Oh yes, we will get to be with the Father too.
I have longed to look upon their faces and in heaven I will have that blessed privilege. So Paul
rejoiced in that fact (Philippians 1:23).
There are many things we believe and KNOW for a fact. Surely the greatest is to know that
heaven awaits. I know I love my family and the church and the word of God. But all I know and
now enjoy will end for me when death comes. All except those joys that await me in heaven. 2
Corinthians 5:1 reminds us that we know we have a building that is eternal in the heavens. Praise
God for this enduring knowledge.
Why did He give us this knowledge and these truths for heavenly minds? Because "the future
helps to regulate our present conduct." People will often refrain from crime if they believe they will
be punished. Others will work much harder if they believe their labors will be rewarded by
promotions. Therefore, "our present is regulated by our future."
First, they are given to strengthen us and keep us from fainting. So often we buckle beneath the
heavy load of troubles. If it were not for our faith and belief in heaven, sometimes we would not be
able to go on. Remember that Jesus endured the cross, but looked beyond to the joy set before Him.
It will do the same for us, if we cultivate the heavenly mind. "The heavenly minded person is often
a tough minded optimist" (Luke 18:1).
Second, it will encourage us to greater work in His kingdom. While we wait to go to heaven,
we are to be busy. We are not to sit idly and bide our time. We would not be good stewards of the
life He has given us. It is true that we have been told to "occupy until He comes," but we are to be
working while we occupy. The passage to which I have reference is found in Luke 19:13. But look
further down at verse 15, where He examined what they had gained by trading. They were not lazy,
loafing, waiting on His return. Nor should we be. Thoughts of heaven should make us work the
more diligently, knowing that there we will enjoy the fruits of His work of grace. "Being heavenly
minded does not mean to be no earthly good."
Third, they are intended to fill our hearts with hope. Hope is a blessing of immeasurable value.
Have you ever been sick and reassured that your health would return, you lived in hope each day and
never gave up. On the other hand, there are people who have no hope of recovery, they live each day
waiting for things to get worse until at last they die. The difference in their mental state is called
HOPE. When we wait expectantly, we have hope (Romans 8:24-25). Our hope is heaven, where
we will at long last escape the sinful imperfections of this flesh and at last be conformed to His
image (1 John 3:2-3). We will not attain perfection until then. But because of that blessed hope, we
can live in its light and strength each day. We do not have to live in defeat but in the victory of
Christ and a genuine hope of heaven. This is what it means to be heavenly minded. We can and
indeed must stand upon the promises of God. Hope is a powerful influence upon those who are
heavenly minded.
We must then cultivate this heavenly mindedness. (1). By reading the Bible and attending
church more. Here we will be reminded of heaven, if the gospel is preached in its fullness. (2). By
fellowshipping more with our Lord Jesus Christ. The closer we live to Him and the closer we
become, the more of heaven will be in our hearts. (3). By setting our minds to think more about
heaven. It will take time each day, but what else could prove to be such a blessing.
Let me conclude with three poems, three thoughts about heaven and three scriptures, that draw
our minds heavenward and bless the heavenly minded.
THE HOMELAND
THINK-Of stepping on shore and finding it heaven;
Of taking hold of a hand and finding it God's hand;
Of breathing new air and finding it celestial air;
Of feeling invigorated and finding it immortality;
Of passing from storm and tempest to an unbroken calm;
Of looking up - and finding it HOME!
By Myrtle Erickson
HEAVEN AT LAST
On the jasper threshold standing,
Like a pilgrim safely landing,
See the strange, bright scenes expanding,
Ah, 'tis heaven at last.
What a city, what a glory
Far beyond the fairest story,
Of the ages, old and hoary,
Ah, 'tis heaven at last.
Christ Himself the living splendor,
Christ, the Sunshine, mild and tender,
Praises to the Lamb we render,
Ah, 'tis heaven at last.
Selected
ARE ALL THE CHILDREN IN?
Are all the children in? The night is falling,
And storm clouds gather in the threatening west;
The lowing cattle seek a friendly shelter;
The birds flies to her nest;
The thunder crashes; wilder grows the temptest,
And darkness settles o'er the fearful din;
Come, shut the door, and gather round the hearthstone-
Are all the children in?
Are all the children in? The night is falling,
When gilded sin doth walk about the streets,
Oh at last it biteth like a serpent! Poisioned are stolen sweets.
O mothers! guard the feet of inexperience,
Too prone to wander the paths of sin!
Oh shut the door of love against temptation!
Are all the children in?
Are all the children in? The night is falling,
The night of death is hastening on apace;
The Lord is calling: "Enter thou thy chamber and tarry there a space."
And when He comes, the King in all His glory,
Who died the shameful death our hearts to win,
Oh, may the gates of heaven shut about us,
With all the children in.
By Elizabeth Rosser
Heaven is the light that shines in our storm. Some men who worked on the water were caught
in a violent storm one night. Their vessel floundered and they got into a small boat. All that night
they feared dying as they were tossed about the rough sea. After being rescued, the captain stated
that one thing kept them from giving up hope, they could see the lights of home. We need to keep
our eyes on the lights of home and heaven, lest we despair of hope.
Heaven is the Father waiting. Years ago a small boy was place on a train to take a long trip.
They had been travelling most of the day and it was hot and dusty. He looked tired but he sat
patiently and quietly. A kind lady said, "Aren't you tired of the long ride, son?" He answered, "Yes
ma'am, but I don't mind so much because my father will meet me when I get there." When our
journey ends, our Father will meet us after the long and difficult trip of life, in a place called heaven.
Heaven is where we call home when it gets dark. A lady visited a friend, whose aged mother
lived with her. After a good visit, she rose to go home. The aged saint, whose mind had weakened
with age and was forgetful, rose also and said, I want to go home too. Her daughter reassured her
that she was home, then after a moment of silence she said, "I want to go home before it gets dark."
It was getting dark for her, the light of life was fading away a little each day. Many of God's dear
saints wait as life darkens with dimmed senses and physical suffering. But when it gets dark, they
go home to the Father of lights.
Heaven is a place with no glass. A small boy lost both his parent in death. He was put in the
care of a woman who was a drunkard. She mistreated the child and often sent him out to beg on the
streets. Often he looked at the toys in the store, but there was always a glass to keep him from
touching them. One day he was hit by a car and carried to a hospital. When he awoke in the
children's ward, there were children playing with beautiful toys. He thought he was in heaven
because there was no glass between him and the toys. There is a glass now, but one day the darkened
glass will be taken away (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Read also Romans 8:17-18, Ephesians 3:20-21, and 1 Corinthians 2:9-10.
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