Series: The Upside-Down Kingdom
Title: Kingdom Living Is Being Eternity Minded
Recap:
So far in this series we have talked about:
• Your Kingdom Come
• Kingdom Living is Loving Your Enemies
• Kingdom Living is Serving Others
• Kingdom Living is Complete Surrender
• In Kingdom Living God Uses the Unlikely for the Extraordinary

(Story of Uncle- living for the moment)

That’s how most of this world thinks. But in the upside-down kingdom Jesus instructs us to live for something more than the moment. We are to live for eternity there is a major difference.

Eternity Minded is Anticipating Eternity
Having an eternal mindset means living in anticipation of the promises of God and the hope of eternity, rather than being consumed by earthly anxieties.

2 Corinthians 4:16
16 So we do not lose heart.
We all have been tempted to lose heart at times. But the apostle Paul is encouraging the church at Corinth to not lose heart. He does so while being persecuted for preaching the gospel. For in. verse eight of this same passage Paul says, 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
Paul was telling the truth about being afflicted in every way. Just a few chapters later we read:

2 Corinthians 11:23-28
23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
How many of you would have thrown in the towel if just one of these things happened to you? How could Paul be afflicted in every way but not lose heart? Thankfully He lets us in on the secret.
He continues in verse 16.

2 Corinthians 4:16
16b Though our outer self is wasting away,
Though Paul is talking about the suffering taking a toll on his physical body, likewise as we get older many of us are just falling apart or wasting away. We might not be able to hear or see like we use to or do certain things that we were once able to do. We live in a corruptible flesh. One day you will die. Your fleshly body will one day return to the ground. It is part of the curse of sin and death.
However, Paul continues:
our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
The reason we should not lose heart has something to do with our inner self being renewed day by day. So while our flesh is decaying our spirit is being renewed daily.
This daily renewal is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory. What is that?
Eternal weight of glory – (Picture of scale)
Let’s consider a scale that would have been like one used during the time of this writing. If you place an item on one side the weight of that item would cause the heavier end of the beam to tilt toward the bottom while the lighter end of the beam rises upward. This system was often used in exchanging goods to ensure a balanced trade.
The idea is the weight of the eternal glory, being with God in His place, in His Kingdom, with His people, Under His rule, enjoying His blessings far outweighs any suffering that we encounter in our physical bodies.
Paul also uses the words light (like the scale) our affliction is light in comparison to the weight of eternal glory. Our affliction is light in comparison of Christ’s affliction as well. He also uses the word momentary to describe his affliction. If we consider the span of eternity, then our afflictions seem only but for a moment in time. Then we go onto glory. Here is a glimpse:
Revelation 21:3
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away
This is the hope that the apostle Paul held on to even amid persecution is the hope that we have as believers. At the conclusion of 2 Corinthians 4:18 it says:
18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Transient – proskairos for a season; enduring only for a while; temporary
We must anticipate eternity (the unseen things)
Eternity Minded Stores Up Treasure in Heaven
Ancient Egyptian pharaohs were buried with treasures because they believed in an afterlife and wanted to ensure their continued well-being and enjoyment of life in the next world, much like they had in this one.
To ensure a comfortable and prosperous afterlife, the tombs were stocked with items the deceased would need, including food, drink, furniture, clothing, and personal belonging.
Instead of accumulating earthly possessions, focus on storing up treasure in heaven, which will last forever.
Matthew 6:19-21
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
To "store up treasures in heaven," as Jesus taught, means to prioritize spiritual values and actions over earthly possessions and desires, focusing on acts of kindness, righteousness, and service to others, rather than accumulating wealth
What do you consider to be the best thing? Some people choose the world for their reward. Your treasure is linked to your heart.
If we make (transient things) temporal things our best things, if we rely on them as the source of our hope, happiness and fulfilment we will be very disappointed.
We often put so much hope in things that are seen. But they are transient, they are temporary.
Your career may be here today and gone tomorrow. People who were your closest friends back then may not be your closest friends now. Even friendships are temporal.
Your tires on your vehicle eventually need to be replaced and so will your water heater. Your house will collect spider webs and dust, and the weeds will eventually takeover if left unkept.
Steel (a very strong material) will eventually rust and fall apart to remind us that even it is under the curse of decay for it will not last. Death and decay will take place to everyone and everything.
James 4:14
14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
Therefore, it is foolish to live for the moment, but rather we are to live in anticipation of eternity. Meanwhile as we anticipate eternity, we are to be storing up treasures in heaven. Lastly as we anticipate eternity, we must live in a way that pleases God.
Eternity Minded Seeks to Please God:
An eternal perspective cultivates a desire to please God and do His work, rather than focusing on worldly pursuits.
Colossians 3
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Pleasing God starts with honoring Him with our thoughts. As we have already determined, God’s kingdom is very different even Upside-down in comparison to this earthly kingdom. We are instructed to set our minds on things that are above and not on things that are on the earth.
Though we are flesh and blood, and our thoughts tend to be earthly minded we are instructed to set our minds on higher things.
Setting your mind on higher things will require intentionality and might be difficult at first. Because you are establishing new neurological pathways in your brain. This takes time, consistency and discipline to establish these new pathways.
In other passages Paul tells us take our thoughts captive
2 Corinthians 10:5
5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
I recently heard someone say on the radio, “change the channel when it comes to your thoughts.” While I understand its implication the Bible demands a much stronger response.
When we have covetous thoughts, impure thoughts, or thoughts that are not of God, we must take those thoughts captive. When you’re having lustful thoughts, gossiping thoughts you must take that captive.
When you’re having thoughts that twist and pervert the identity that God has given you, you must take those thoughts captive. You’re not a furry, dog, cat if you are a man then you are not a woman, if you are a woman then you are not a man. Take those thoughts captive.
When a prisoner is held captive, they are at the mercy of the authority above them. Their rights have been revoked, and they can no longer roam about freely. They are captive.
Yet even stronger language is used Colossians 3:5
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
Don’t entertain such things. Put them to DEATH for the wrath of God is coming.
We don’t like talking about the wrath of God because it makes people feel uncomfortable. But just as He is a God of love, He is a God of wrath. He will execute justice perfectly.
Jesus first came as a humble servant, born in a manger in Bethlehem. The second coming of Christ will be a dreadful sight to behold for those who are not found in Him.
Revelation 19:11-16
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
This should motivate us to live in such a way that pleases God. For this world teaches if it feels good then do it. But the Bible teaches that such actions will encounter the wrath of God.
Galatians 5:19-24
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Living eternity minded is living in such a way that pleases God. We can only please God if the Holy Spirit is working in our lives producing the fruit of the Spirit.
Eternity Minded is Anticipating Eternity - Eternity Minded Stores Up Treasure in Heaven
Eternity Minded Seeks to Please God