LIVE STEADFASTLY AS THE CITIZEN OF HEAVEN
By Rev. Paulus Budiono
Lemah Putro, Sunday, 1 December 2019
Shalom,
We are already in December and we can sense the Christmas atmosphere everywhere although the rain has not yet fallen. Christmas carols began echoeing to commemorate the birthday of Jesus more than 2,000 years ago. But let’s not fixate only on His birth then forget about His return. What must we do and prepare for His coming? Philippians 3:17 – 4:1 exhorts, "Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.”
You can imagine the traces of the Apostle Paul's tears in prison on a cold stone, on the dirty floor or in his wound! He cried not because of the pain he was suffering or because he was contemplating his unfortunate fate, but because he was afraid that the church he had been serving was influenced by people who became enemies of the cross of Christ. He cried seeing that there were "two kinds" of Philippians, namely: the worldly Philippians and the Philippians that were citizens of Heaven.
Are we aware that we have two nationalities, namely: Indonesian citizens and citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven? Of course we must not neglect our country as long as we still live in this world because we are not living in the air being the citizens of Heaven! But there must be a balance: we love the state and government of Indonesia, but there is a clear and bold line between dark and light that cannot be united. Outwardly we are Indonesian citizens who obey government laws and regulations but God also wants us to have the character of the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. As Indonesian citizens, we don't need to long/wait for Indonesia because we are already in Indonesia. We are waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior because we have not yet lived in Heaven.
Why did Jesus teach us to pray inviting the Kingdom of Heaven to come to earth where we live (Matthew 6:10)? It turns out that the Kingdom of Heaven does not yet exist on earth because there are still many corruptions, infidelity, murder etc. That’s why do not stop praying for the Kingdom of Heaven to come on earth, the smaller scope comes in our household.
In fact, our activities, reactions and views about the Kingdom of Heaven are often obscured by the attraction of an increasingly lively, seductive and tantalizing world. If our eyes and hearts are a little careless – no longer serious about God's Word, our hearts and eyes will be easily influenced by the world with its sophisticated technology. Be aware that if we only invite the Kingdom of Heaven to come to church, the countries throughout the world will be destroyed because only the Kingdom of Heaven can restore the destroyed kingdoms of the world. Remember, the Kingdom of Heaven is never destroyed/broken, the King, Jesus Christ, never changes and He is the Creator and Owner of heaven, earth and everything in it.
What process happens to us while waiting for the return of Jesus Christ?
- We hope that our mortal body will be transformed into glorious body just as His Body is (Philippians 3: 20-21). "For our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself." (Philippians 3: 20-21)
If we simply wait for God without any motivation, we will become bored reading the Bible and also lazy to keep our body holy. That’s why many become enemies of the Lord Jesus, they are more concerned with worldly matters and make their stomachs their God.
It is different if we have hope that our despicable body will be transformed into the likeness of His glorious body. We will be motivated to prepare ourselves to await His coming. What is meant by a change in body is not a change in body shape through plastic surgery that is rife now but it is a change in the character of an old life marked by sin.
Apostle Paul emphasized on the body, because truly our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us (1 Corinthians 6:19). The body is not for sexual immorality but for God (v. 13); therefore both young single men and married people must maintain the holiness of the body/life. Remember, we have been bought at a high price and paid in full. Obviously, our bodies belong to God; therefore glorify Him with our body and spirit (v. 20). Do not live full of pretense – in church we look holy but outside the church we ruin our body with evil and unclean deeds.
How do we respond to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ? Are we enthusiastic or ignorant because we don't really know him? Do we still believe that He is able to change our lives? Each of us must have different interests for Jesus but our desires and needs for His coming will be the same. Indeed, we do not know Jesus Christ because we have never met Him in plain sight. Unlike the Apostle Paul who saw Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9: 3-5). In his testimony, Paul said that Jesus appeared to him the same as a child born prematurely. Paul felt the most despicable of all the apostles but found grace to see Him (1 Corinthians 15: 8-10).
However, don't be discouraged, we can get to know the Person of Jesus through the Bible which gives a complete description of His first coming to the world, the mission He is carrying out, and the purpose of His second coming. The first time He came, He – the Word – became Man and dwelled among us (John 1:14). This is how we get to know Jesus through the reading of God's Word and then we are to introduce the Person of Jesus to others.
If we are truly waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ, we will obey the commandments of His Word by taking off everything that is worldly impacting us to experience changes from day to day to know the Creator, Jesus Christ (Colossians 3: 5-10).
- We are enriched in words, knowledge and gifts for unity and communion (1 Corinthians 1: 4-9). “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ who will also confirm you to the end that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
We should make use of the gifts correctly that God has given. God made the poor Corinthians become rich (2 Corinthians 8: 9) in everything - gifts of wisdom, knowledge, healing, faith, tongues, translating etc. (1 Corinthians 12). The Word of God has warned us that all of these gifts aim at the unity in building the body of Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 1: 9-10). Unfortunately, the Corinthians abused the gifts resulting in schisms among them – there were groups of Paul, Apollos, Cephas and Christ (v. 12).
Introspection: have we used the gifts that God gave us or we refused to partake in the ministry with an excuse of having no gifts? Do we use the gifts from God for the unity of the body or even cause division because we feel our gifts are greater and then harassing other congregation/churches? Illustration: each member of the body grows together and does not compete with one another – the right hand does not grow first then the left hand grows later, and so on.
- We serve God so that we are free from the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1: 9-10).
“For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for His Son from heaven whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”
We serve the living God in waiting for the return of Jesus so that we will be free from the wrath to come. The world is ready to be destroyed with a consuming fire (2 Pet. 3:10) and we are waiting for the new heaven and earth – the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21).
Whom will God's wrath fall upon? The nations, the kings of the earth, the dignitaries and officers, the rich and powerful, all slaves and free people will weep for fear of His wrath (Rev. 1:7–8; 6:15-17). Have we introduced Jesus Christ to them so that they can avoid God's wrath? We are responsible for their blood if we never preach Jesus to them. If they keep rejecting the message of salvation, that's their business; the important thing is we have preached the good news to them. How many people of Indonesian population (714 tribes and 1001 languages) who have known the Lord Jesus and His second coming? And how many of our family and friends know Him? Are we happy to enter heaven while they are weeping for fearing of the fire of punishment?
Surely no one can stand God's wrath if we do not love Him and do His Word. Therefore, as long as we are given time and opportunity, know Him and be diligent in reading the Bible. Do not hold on to Chinese philosophy which says man’s life cycle is birth – getting old – becoming sick – death. A man’s life is not finished after death. The physical body will be dead but the spirit will be alive to make accountability for what he has done while he was still alive. For this reason our spirits must always communicate with the Holy Spirit so that the Holy Spirit bears witness that we are children of God (Romans 8: 15-16). Who is the Holy Spirit? He is God himself.
Obviously now we are serving God not to be blessed to be rich, famous, prosperous, but to avoid the wrath of God to come.
- We are freed from all evil and sanctified to be His people who are diligent in doing good (Titus 2: 11-14).
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”
We are freed/delivered from all evil and sanctified to be diligent in doing good and ready to welcome the coming of Jesus.
- Christ will come the second time not to bear sin but to bring salvation for those who await Him (Hebrews 9: 27-28).
“And as it is appointed for men to die once but after this the judgment so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time apart from sin for salvation.”
Who are they waiting for His coming? They are no longer dealing with sin because their sins have been forgiven. If they were not dead when the Lord came, they would be caught up to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
To the adulterous woman who was on the verge of death, Jesus did not punish her but reminded her not to sin again (John 8:11).
All of us have sinned (small or big), do not keep our sins because even the slightest sin will bring death (James 1:15); therefore, all sins must be eradicated. Man’s heart is the source of evil and uncleanness (Matthew 15:19) and it’s even more cunning than anything else (Jeremiah 17:9). For this reason, give our cunning heart to be cleansed by the blood of Christ.
Now we understand what happen to us while we’re waiting for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Our lives are being transformed continually day by day, enriched with gifts from Him for the unity of the Body of Christ so that one day we won’t be able to commit sin anymore and are saved from the wrath of God. We are obliged to proclaim His return to those who do not know God yet, so that they will also be saved and together we will be picked up by Him to live with Him in the new Jerusalem. Those who wait for (the very person of) God shall renew their strength; they shall not be sluggish and weary (Isaiah 40:31) until He comes again. Amen.
Video Ibadah ini dapat disimak di Ibadah Umum - Hidup Teguh Sebagai Warga Negara Sorga - Pdt. Paulus Budiono.