Where We Dwell

Mark Dunagan
01/24/16 - Sunday Morning

Where We Dwell

The Bible often talks about the importance of our thought life (Proverbs 4:23), what we mentally dwell upon, what consumes most of our waking mental moments (Philippians 4:8), and where we are focused mentally (Colossians 3:1).   It is easy to lose one’s focus, mentally dwelling in dark places (Titus 1:15; Ephesians 4:18).   In this lesson I want to discuss five things that help when it comes to remaining spiritually, emotionally and mentally healthy.

The Right View of God

• God loves me so much that He allowed His beloved Son to suffer and die so that I can be saved: Romans 8:32
• God loves me so much that He has patiently waited for me to repent: 2 Peter 3:9
• God loves me so much that He wants to adopt me into His family and spend eternity with Him:  Ephesians 1:5
• God is a loving Father, just waiting for me to approach Him so that He can run to meet me: Luke 15:20
• God so yearns for my salvation that all of heaven rejoices when I make things right with Him:  Luke 15:7, 10

The Right View of Reality

• “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves do not break in or steal” (Matthew 6:19).
• “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.  For momentarily, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
• “Bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).
• “The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever"(1 John 2:17).
• “I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea” (Revelation 21:1).

“These texts are decidedly countercultural in that they challenge the predominately this-worldly and materialistic mindsets reinforced by the cultures of science, technology and digital media.  They remind us that the invisible things of heaven are not only real but in the last analysis, more lasting and important than the material forces and objects that we think we can manipulate and control.  This material world is real and good as God’s creation, but is it not eternal, and we look to the future when God will…. replace it with an environment that is unimaginably more beautiful and satisfying” (Meditation and Communion with God, John Jefferson Davis, p. 152).

Let's determine to spend more time dwelling upon what will be lasting and where all our existence will be spent in the future.  Do you envision yourself with God in heaven,  worshipping Him alongside the angels?  Serving Him with all the redeemed from every age of mankind?  Communing with Him along with Moses, Abraham, David, Joseph and others?  Enjoying face to face communion with Him in a body which cannot die nor age?  Being completely released and free from all pain, worries, anxieties, unhealthy thoughts, conflict, discouragement or sadness (Revelation 21:4)?   May we never forget that all the delights of this world, even the wholesome delights, are temporary.  We are headed for a place of eternal delights of unimaginable fulfillment, “In Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever” (Psalm 16:11). 

The Right View of Myself

• “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
•  “Because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
• “I know your tribulation and our poverty (but you are rich)” (Revelation 2:9).

Praise be to God that our fundamental identity is not a matter of ethnic nor national-origin nor social class.  Rather, our fundamental identity is something within our own control: that we are followers of Christ, we are saints, we are brothers and sisters in the family of God, we are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20),  and we are branches in the true vine (John 15).  We are still individuals who will stand by ourselves before Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10), yet we no longer live an individualistic existence.  That old, autonomous self that wanted to live our own way is dead.  Who am I?  I am a very needed and necessary member in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:14ff).   By His grace and mercy, I am now part of the most important collective that exists on the earth: the bride of Christ (Acts 20:28),  that I am blessed to work with, grow with, learn with, worship with and encourage other precious family members.

The Right View of “Now”

Too often Christians think that all the real rewards of being a Christian are “up there” in heaven.  Heaven will be far beyond anything that we can presently imagine (Romans 8:18), yet in this life let's make certain we are not missing and failing to appreciate the amazing blessings that we currently have in Christ.

• We presently have access to every spiritual blessing: Ephesians 1:3
• We are presently said to be beholding the glory of the Lord—and are being transformed (2 Corinthians 3:18).
• Any faithful Christian is in the process of transitioning from this world to the next.  We are in the process of preparing for our life with the Creator in heaven, of finishing the work of becoming what God wants us to be, of taking on the complete image and character of a child of God, of becoming holy men and women (1 Peter 1:14). 
• We presently are seated with Jesus in heavenly places: Ephesians 2:6
• God is now hearing and answering our prayers:  1 John 5:14
• We are at this time enjoying fellowship with God: 1 John 1:7
• We are presently able to walk in His light: 1 John 1:7
• We are now enjoying victories over Satan:  1 John 2:13-14
• Our current blessings as Christians are so real and so great that the writer of the book of Hebrews said that “you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22).

Although we are not yet in heaven, all of the above passages remind us that currently we have access to and can be enjoying many tremendous benefits of having a relationship with the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.   So let’s not be distracted or discouraged by the “little things” around us.

The Right View of My Purpose Here

• “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
• “Not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved” (10:33).
• “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
• “To the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:14).
• “Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I formed, even whom I have made” (Isaiah 43:7).

Ultimate reality is not found in serving, pleasing or glorifying ourselves or mere men.  It is not found in matter, but in spirit.  It is not found all by ourselves, but in a community of believers.  And it is found in living in such a way that my life declares that God was wise in creating me, and wise in having Jesus die for me.  That this entire testing on earth was worth it, for it produced people who really do love Him even in a context where they could not see Him, and were faced with so many competing loves.  Still they loved Him first and foremost, with all their hearts.

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net