DRAWING NEAR

January 5

Cultivating a Heavenly Perspective


God "has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly
places" (Eph. 1:3).


Christians hold a dual citizenship. We are citizens of earth but,
more importantly, we are also citizens of heaven.

It's been said that some Christians are so heavenly minded, they're
no earthly good. But usually the opposite is true. Many Christians
are so enamored with this present world that they no longer look
forward to heaven. They have everything they want right here. The
health, wealth, and prosperity doctrine has convinced them that
Christians can have it all, and they pursue "the good life" with a
vengeance.

Despite the prevalence of such thinking, the old Negro spiritual well
says, "This world is not my home. I'm just a passin' through."

Paul reminds us of that truth in Philippians 3:20: "Our citizenship
is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ." That's why we must set our minds on heavenly, not on
earthly things (Col. 3:1-2). Our deepest affections and highest
aspirations should center there. Our actions and decisions should
reflect heavenly priorities, not earthly indulgences.

Even though we live in a sin-stained world and must constantly fight
against its corrupting influences, God hasn't left us stranded. He
extends to us all the rights and privileges of our heavenly
citizenship. Let that assurance encourage you today to live to His
glory and rely on His heavenly provisions. Take care not to let
impure aspirations or trivial pursuits distract you from your
heavenly priorities.


Suggestions for Prayer:

 Tell Jesus how thankful and full of praise you are because of the
place He is preparing for you in heaven (John 14:1-3).

 Pray for a greater awareness of the fleeting value of this world
and the surpassing value of the world to come (1 John 2:17).


For Further Study:

Read Revelation 4-5, 21.

 What primary activity are the inhabitants of heaven engaged in?

 List some of heaven's blessings.

Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.

All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org

~~~


Colossians 3:1-2
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are
above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

John 14:1-3
1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also
in Me.
2 "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I
would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and
receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

1 John 2:17
And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does
the will of God abides forever.

Revelation 4-5
4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in
heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking
with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must
take place after this."
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in
heaven, and One sat on the throne.
3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in
appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance
like an emerald.
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I
saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had
crowns of gold on their heads.
5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.
Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the
seven Spirits of God.
6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in
the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living
creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living
creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a
man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of
eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:
"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!"
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to
Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the
throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their
crowns before the throne, saying:
11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were
created."
5:1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a
scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is
worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?"
3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able
to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read
the scroll, or to look at it.
5 But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion
of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the
scroll and to loose its seven seals."
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the
four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb
as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which
are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who
sat on the throne.
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and
the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp,
and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the
saints.
9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the
scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed
us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and
nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign
on the earth."
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the
throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them
was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
12 saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To
receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory
and blessing!"
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under
the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I
heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who
sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
14 Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four
elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

Revelation 21
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and
the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of
heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the
tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they
shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be
no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain,
for the former things have passed away."
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things
new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and
faithful."
6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the
Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of
life freely to him who thirsts.
7 "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God
and he shall be My son.
8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually
immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in
the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second
death."
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with
the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come,
I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high
mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem,
descending out of heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious
stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve
angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names
of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on
the south, and three gates on the west.
14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were
the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city,
its gates, and its wall.
16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its
breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand
furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.
17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits,
according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure
gold, like clear glass.
19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all
kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second
sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite,
the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the
eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of
one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent
glass.
22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb
are its temple.
23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it,
for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light,
and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no
night there).
26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into
it.
27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or
causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the
Lamb's Book of Life.

These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.

In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.

If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.

You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:

http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/

and

http://www.gty.org.uk/

You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org



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In Christ,



Peter

Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com

STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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was you. -Alistair Begg