For all it is worth, going to heaven should not be our priority. We were not saved to go to heaven, rather we were saved for the earth. Jesus did not die to take us to heaven, He died and empower us to work on the restoration of the earth. Even when Jesus returns, He will create a new earth for us to stay.
As I wrote in the last blog, many Christians see heaven as an escape route so they are not pulling their weight here on the earth. God did not see heaven as an achievement for us. He tasks us with the responsibility of making disciples of all nations and teaching them to obey the commands of Jesus. That is why angels in heaven rejoiced when sinners repent because the earth has more people who are enlisted to carry out the great commission of reconciling the world to God and discipline people (2Cor 5: 18-20). As long as we plan to escape to heaven, we will not be able to cooperate with God to do what He wants done and as such we will end up becoming earthly irrelevant.
God has a plan for our world. He wants this earth to be an extension of heaven. He wants His will to be established in the earth as it is in heaven and He has chosen us to be His partner.
“The only way evil can succeed is for people who know how to do good to fold their arms and do nothing.”
One of the reasons for the mess in our world today is due to Christians folding their hands and allowing the devil to run rampant on our streets. The only reason darkness can take root is for light not to shine. The only way evil can succeed is for people who know how to do good to fold their arms and do nothing. This is what some Christians have done in the last century. They have folded their arms because they believed the lies of the devil that there’s nothing they can do to effect any changes here. They have forgotten that when Jesus was leaving the earth, He prayed that God should not take them away from the earth. He wanted us here because this is where our impact will be felt.
It is a tall order asking sinners to behave like saints or politicians who do not know God, fear Him, and honor Him to make policies that will bring glory to His name. Good public policies can only be made when God’s people are in the position that gives them the ability to make them. You cannot legislate righteousness, you can only influence people to come to the knowledge of the faith and become God’s children.
Moreover, He sent the Holy Spirit to live in us so that He can help us translate whatever is happening in heaven into the earth. The Holy Spirit brought the kingdom of God into our hearts. Jesus needed us here. Remember He taught us to pray that God’s will will be done here as it is in heaven. Have you ever taken the time to reflect on that prayer? Why would Jesus ask us to pray that prayer if He does not have any plan for the earth? Why would He pray that God will not take us out of the world if there is nothing for us to do here? Why would He send the Holy Spirit to us to be our Comforter and Strengthener if He does not have anything for us to do here? Why did He create us in His image and likeness in the first place if He did not want us here?
“I want to challenge you today to stop playing church and start making meaning with your life because you can be in church and not be heavenly conscious or earthly relevant.”
We need godly people to take the reign of affairs in different areas of our society. We need you to start doing something worthy of Christ. Contrary to the saying, the devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know. The reality is that the angel you don’t know is far better than the devil you know. The devil does not stand for anything good but the angels of the Lord always obey the voice of His command to carry out His goodness.
Jesus is calling you to become earthly relevant. You are the light of the world and the salt of the earth, not heaven. You are not needed in heaven but here. This earth has been given to us. It is our territory and He called us to reign here. If we don’t pull our weights here the world will decay, become rotten, and darkened.
“We need godly people to take the reign of affairs in different areas of our society.”
To be earthly relevant, you must understand God’s purpose for your life. The purpose of a thing is the reason for its existence. Purpose determines essence, structure, design, exposure, and relationships. You are designed for a purpose. Your personality, interests, stature, and gender are all for a reason but if you don’t understand that reason, you will ultimately mismanage your life, abuse your opportunities and become a burden to the people around you.
Being earthly relevant is knowing that you have work here to do. Jesus came to do God’s work and will and He left us here and empowered us to continue with it. Just like the devil’s children are diligent in carrying out their father’s orders, it is expected of us to start doing God’s work and carrying out not only His order but His will and purpose.
The following are two scriptures that can be helpful to you as you think about what it means to be earthly relevant:
- Matthew 5: 13-16
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (NKJV).
- Ephesians 2: 10
For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us] (AMP).
I want to challenge you today to stop playing church and start making meaning with your life because you can be in church and not be heavenly conscious or earthly relevant. I want to encourage you to reflect on how you have been living day-in-day-out to see if you are truly living for God or yourself. The good news is that it is not too late to make a U-turn. Remember that it is not about your ability but your availability. God is at work in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. I pray that you will respond promptly to His calling on your life and become the agent of positive change in Jesus’ name.
