The Value Of Heavenly Pursuit

The Value Of Heavenly Pursuit

Text: John 6:24 “When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.”

It is what you placed value on that you will ensure its successful conclusion, whether in business, marriage, career, education, and such like. Oftentimes, most people can give up food, raiment, comfort, pleasures, and dignity just to attain a certain goal/career in their life’s endeavor. This is putting interest in making sure that all that is planned comes out satisfactorily successful and glorious.
This zealous effort is often recorded when we humans are out in the pursuit of one earthly goal and desire to fulfill our existence here on earth. The level of interest developed in bringing this to a logical conclusion is so amazing to the fact that, we are mostly celebrated by men when our stars starts beaming with recorded successes. This is amazingly glorious!

Most of us today can spend millions and billions amount of our resources in our various currencies just for the maintenance of our body only. We are so conscious of this our sandy body as if it will not be destroyed one day. All our efforts are mostly for the pleasing of our body only. This is wickedness! “Labour not for the meat which perisheth” John 4:27.
We are doing all these at the detriment of our soul, our real personality that will outlive this sandy body Ecclesiastes 12:7. Please, let’s start to attach greater importance to the saving of our soul than the pleasures and attention we are giving to our body. This will help us to start making preparation for heaven. Amen.

However, in the matter of heaven, the same people you see with such level of commitment and zeal to meeting their earthly goals, aspirations and desires are often seen lackadaisical in the pursuit of their heavenly goals and attainment. This approach of ours to our heavenly pursuit has grave consequences. To this effect, the bible asked: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:36-37.

It is a good thing and God wish that we become the best in this life, hence the bible says “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat” 2 Thessalonians 3:10. But, should our attention and focus be earthly concentrated only as Christians, we are of all people to be pitied, just as 1 Corinthians 15:19 puts it “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”

The prosperity of our soul which is to make heaven ultimately far outweighs these earthly successes, achievements and conquest. In 3rd John verse 2, the bible says “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, EVEN AS THY SOUL PROSPERETH”, making reference to the prosperity of the soul foremost. If you are prosperous physically but soulishly poor, you will become like the rich fool that Jesus spoke about in Luke 12:16-21, who lays up earthly treasures for himself but was not rich towards God.

The concentration of our hearts is often towards where our treasures are stored up. To therefore be conscious of our heavenly pursuit, we must ensure that our treasures are heavenly based. Matthew  6:19 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 BUT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

When Jesus was teaching, HE said “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” John 4:34. Until we Christians start to behave the same way Jesus behaved in respect to doing the will of God at all times, we may never be able to fully understand our purpose of being called Christians. John 4:31 “In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”
This mindset of readiness to do the will of God always greatly helped Jesus to bow to the will of God in the garden of Gethsemane Matthew 26:36-44. Are you ready to do the will of God today and put your own will aside? May the LORD God Almighty give you the grace to do so in Jesus name. Amen.

Apostle Paul in recounting the ordeal that befell him for the gospel sake, he enthused “BUT EVEN AFTER THAT WE HAD SUFFERED BEFORE, AND WERE SHAMEFULLY ENTREATED, AS YE KNOW, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention” 1 Thessalonians 2:2.
2 Corinthians 11:22 “Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. 32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: 33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.”
In order for Paul to win Christ, he gave up on the things that were gain to him. What have you given up for heaven? Philippians 3:7 “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”

It is my prayer for you today that the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you, that your faith will fail not in the day of your adversary in Jesus name. Amen. 1 Peter 5:10.

Remain heavenly conscious and be rapture ready. God bless you.
Shalom!