Eternal Archives - Things Above Ministries

TAT 128 Look Up

On March 23, 2018 / End Times, Eternal, Faith

Things Above Thought
TAT 128 Looking Up

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (Col. 3:2)

And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11)

And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. (Matt. 24:30)

I have started a new habit; everyday I make it a point to gaze, not just look, into the sky. Where is He? Will He come today? Will I be one of the first to see the sign? These three things I know: 1. All the answers to all my problems and my savior will come from above not through humans, or human agencies, on this earth (Mat. 24). 2. I don’t look up (gaze) near enough. 3. No matter what your beliefs about the end times His return is a solid, factual, real promise. This will happen!

So if these are the end times then stop looking around, wondering what is going on, and start gazing up.

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (Col. 3:2)

The Economy, God’s Plan or Reverse Logic

On November 27, 2017 / Blessing, Eternal, Faith, Goals

Things Above Thought
TAT 120 The Economy – God’s Plan or Reverse logic?
(Area #3 of testing our spiritual thinking.)

For the profit of godly wisdom is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. (Proverbs 3:14)

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, (Philippians 3:8; see also Philippians 3:8–14)

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8)

The physical riches of God’s temple in the OT were almost un-comprehendible. God also gave riches to some rebellious nations – when it was necessary to His plan. God had given the riches of a wonderful land to the rebellious and sinful Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Then He removed those riches and gave that land to another rebellious people—Israel (Deut. 9:9–6). He did this at the proper time – according to His plan (Gen. 46:3).

Bottom Line: The person thinking spiritually does not have a personal value system based on reverse logic—that physical prosperity means one is godly, and that a healthy national economy is the source of peace and security ( Exodus 3:8; Ecclesiastes 6:2; Luke 12:15–23). One who is thinking spiritually knows and understands God’s plan and therefore values godly wisdom, knowledge about Christ, and a godly love above money. Such people reveal their godly value system with their money.

Adjustment #2

On March 27, 2017 / Eternal, Faith

Things Above Thought
TAT 102 Adjustment #2

One of the benefits of living the eternal life is that when “the living” go to heaven there will not be an enormous adjustment.

Was that a hard thought to grasp? Consider these:
1. The New Testament is an eternal covenant (Isa. 55:3; Eze. 37:26; Heb. 13:20)!
2. Today we are to live by faith (Rom. 14:23; Heb. 11:6). Faith in its most simple definition is knowing God’s word (the Bible) and living by God’s word—know the Bible and live the Bible.
3. For all eternity we will live by faith, knowing God’s word and living by God’s word.
4. For those who learn to live by God’s word in this life, it will not be an enormous adjustment to live by God’s word for all eternity.

Just think about it, we can live the eternal life now!

Established

On November 21, 2016 / Endurance, Eternal, Goals

THINGS ABOVE THOUGHTS
TAT # 96 Established

The world is still in turmoil. Just when we think we have established political systems there is rebellion against them. Business practices that have been established for decades change overnight. Well established personal relationships are destroyed over minor disagreements. Everything that is well established and solid continues to change and disappear. Someone once said, “The only constant in this world is change.” Another has said “The only certainties in life are taxes and death.” But the older I grow the more I see those things which we thought were well established and permanent run off the pages of our life like watercolors running down a page of paper in the rain. It is then I praise God for one simple verse:

The children of Your servants will continue, And their descendants will be established before You. (Ps. 102:28)

Serve God in this melting world and be established before Him forever.

Death Stare

On June 20, 2016 / Eternal, Goals

Things Above Thought
TAT # 86 The Death Stare of a Dead Camel

Remember the rich young man in Matthew 19? He was rich and he had also kept the OT law but he knew he was “dead” so he asked Christ: “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” He did not like the answer and walked away. Do you like all the answers Christ gives you in the Bible? If not why?

Who do you think the rich man was trying to please? Certainly not Christ.
What did he consider to be valuable? Certainly not eternal life.
Who are you trying to please?
What do you consider valuable?

When our goals are not eternal then we have the death stare of a dead camel.
The rich young “dead camel” had that stare (Mat. 19:16–24).
If you are staring at your earthly riches and also at the eye of the needle then you have the same death stare of a dead camel.

Suffering #2

On November 2, 2015 / Character, Christian Basics, Christian Values, Endurance, Eternal, Faith, Goals, God's Will for Me, Strengthing, Suffering, Trials, Victory

Things Above Thought
TAT #58
Suffering #2

Fact #30 Trials can come into my life that are for God’s purposes (Job 1:7).

There are times that God wants us to suffer!?!
When does God want me to suffer?

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (1 Peter 1:6–7)

And if the above does not happen then:

If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:15 underline added)

God wants our faith to be perfect and complete thus producing eternal praise, glory, and honor. Godly suffering produces such results!

Godly Innocence

On October 30, 2015 / Christian Values, Eternal, Victory

Things Above Thought
TAT #51
Godly Innocence

Gone are the days of our innocence. We out grew our toys and left old friends behind. Now we strive for important things. Our lives are ordered by the time sensitive task of important things. But as age continues to creep on the now important things seem to be dimming and the days of past innocence are coming back as fond memories. Isn’t it odd how the Bible tells us the truly important things are in the future and are forever and yet we seldom seem to look there for our innocence.

Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:2).

Value

On October 30, 2015 / Christian Basics, Christian Values, Eternal, Victory

Things Above Thought
TAT #46
Value

My life is important and valuable, I need to get the most out of it that I can. After all I don’t know when I’m going to die. If Christ came to show me how to have a wonderful, abundant life He was a poor example. He suffered a lot, was poor, and only lived to be about 33 years old and now He’s been dead for 2,000 years! Even if I live for over a hundred years that’s a short time compared to how long I’m going to be dead. How can I get the most value out of my life – NOW!?

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; (Mat. 6:19–20)

I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? (Matt. 6:25)

Live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
(1 Pet. 4:2)

Why do I value my present death and find Life so worthless?

FOCUS!

On October 30, 2015 / Character, Christian Basics, Christian Values, Endurance, Eternal, Faith, Goals, Suffering, Trials, Victory

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #41
Focus

Doing the Lord’s will is not always enjoyable. I know that sounds like heresy to some Christians but look at Job, Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Paul, and of course our Lord Jesus Christ, they all had lives of great suffering but they endured. Why were they able to do so? I also know I am called to suffer (Heb.12:2; Col. 1:24–28; 2 Timothy 2:3).
James tells me that suffering can make me perfect and complete (James 1:2–4). But why is it important for me to be complete and perfect? Hebrews 11 and 2 Tim. 2:12 answers that question – to prepare me for a particular spot in God’s eternal kingdom. I know my salvation was achieved by Christ and is secure but there is more possible, (1 Corinthians 3:14–15; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 22:5).
The strange thing about my suffering is that when I focus on the joys, comforts, and present rewards on this earth I become less comfortable and less intimate with my Lord Jesus. Present earthly joys, comforts, and rewards blind me from the joys of my present sufferings. But when I focus on the future eternal joys and intimacy with Christ then my present sufferings seem to disappear.
It is my eternal focus that strengthens my present endurance in all my sufferings and turns those sufferings into joy (Heb. 12:2). Look at the focus of each of the following verses.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.
(Heb11:1 NET Bible)

For if only in this life – I – have hope in Christ, – I – should be pitied more than anyone – else.
(1 Cor. 15:19 NET Bible, personalization added)

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. (Heb. 11:16)

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:2)

Improvement or Perfection

On October 30, 2015 / Character, Christian Basics, Christian Values, Darkness & Light, Endurance, Eternal, Satan, Strengthing, Trials

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #37
Improvement or Perfect?

Paul lived under a dictator who demanded that the citizens revere him as a god and killed all who disesteemed him. To improve on that problem Paul wrote volumes on government improvement? No he wrote:
Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, (Titus 3:1)

Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. (Romans 13:1)

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. (1 Peter 2:13–14)

Paul suffered much for his faith—many imprisonments, close to death several times, 195 lashes, beaten with rods three times (number of lashes unknown), stoned, three times, shipwrecked and drifted for 24 hours, in frequent danger from and in the environment, in the cities, also from robbers, from his own countrymen (Jews), from Gentiles, and from false brethren. He labored through hardship, many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst (often without any food), and without proper clothing to protect him from the elements. Apart from all that, there was the daily pressure of concern for God’s spiritual family (2 Corinthians 11:23–28). To improve on that problem Paul wrote volumes on the “getting even” aspect of faith? No he wrote:

malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
(Titus 3:2)

It seems to me that Paul had a “hidden” agenda:

“for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11–13 emphasis added)

Paul’s “hidden” agenda was equipping us so that we could work in the service of building up (perfecting) other saints, helping each other mature to the fullness of Christ.

So how’s all our “building” coming along today? Are we working for human improvement or godly perfection?

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