And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…
Summary: Listening to Paul talk about waiting for Jesus is inspiring!
Where is your mind? Is it on “earthly things” or are you focused on your “citizenship … in heaven?”
This is the question that Paul puts before us.
To say that someone is focused on heaven is another way of saying that they have their eyes on Jesus. After all, that is where Jesus is! (Mark 16:19) Yet, Paul also notes that Jesus is coming. More importantly, Paul is excited about Jesus’ return.
Why?
There are three scenarios given in Scripture that describe Jesus’ return.
First, Jesus himself promises to come back and “take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3).
Second, Paul explains that at some point, Jesus will come down from heaven to call the “dead in Christ” to rise, and then “catch up” those who are still living. Everyone, then, will meet the Lord “in the air” and will live with the Lord forever (2 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Third, Peter tells us that at some point in the future, there will be a new heaven and a new earth, where “righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).
Each of these sounds different, but in general terms, they describe the same thing. At some point, we will meet up with Jesus, and he will take us to live with him.
So what is Paul looking forward to?
Keep in mind where Paul is writing from.
In this life, he is in prison. In heaven, he will be free.
Here, he is in pain. In his letter to the Corinthians, he writes: “Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me” (2 Corinthians 12:7). In heaven, he will have a new body free from the pain of earthly flesh (2 Corinthians 5:1).
Most importantly, Paul is anxious to be in the presence of Jesus Christ, enjoying “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (v. 8).
There is more, I am sure, that Paul is looking forward to. For now, this is enough. Paul is excited to be with Jesus. The more we know about Jesus, the more we will be, too.
Application: Get to know Jesus.
Food for Thought: What is the difference between knowing Jesus in this life and knowing him face-to-face?
In this life Jesus is continually revealing Himself to me. I believe it is to the measure that I can understand and really, handle. I find it is that my faith is clouded by me leaning into my own understanding, and I need Jesus to transform it to that like a child.
John 14:21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;
When I see Him face-to-face He will reveal Himself in His full Glory.
Matthew 24:30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
Thank you, Chris!
Yes, I agree. I feel the limits of my own lacking, too. Thankfully, our Lord is patient! 🙂
Great point CH.
What is the difference between knowing Jesus in this life and knowing him face-to-face?
Believers, by the power of Jesus Christ, are all in the process of becoming the spiritually, inwardly transformed people, through Jesus Christ. We remain confined within these physical bodies which continue seeking domination of our hearts desires and are at war with our spirits.
2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
1 Peter 2:11, Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.
We may make progress in our struggle for freedom from all sin during this life, and some will be far more successful than others, however our goal will only be fully achieved as we are at last with Jesus.
Hebrews 10:14, For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
Philippians 1:6, Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
We live in faith, knowing what God has begun in us, He will complete.
Thanks, Ron!
I am grateful that you remind us that Jesus isn’t done with us yet!
🙂
Thank you CH and R2T2. Well covered and I don’t have much to add. Just one more Bible verse.
1 Corinthians 13: 11 – 12: When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside childish ways. Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
Thank you, Rich!
Great verse! One of the most profound aspects of that verse is the idea of being “fully known.” Imagine the peace and joy that will bring!