Hunkering Down

Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation so that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. (Philippians 3:7-21)

This World is Not My Home (Music)

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
submitting to one another in the fear of God." (Ephesians 5:15-20)

What does it mean that our citizenship is in heaven?

A citizen is a person who legally belongs to a country and has the rights and protection of that country. Citizens adopt the culture and practices of the nation or kingdom to which they belong. Every human being is born into the kingdom of this world, in which Satan rules (2 Corinthians 4:4). Consequently, we grow up adopting the culture, practices, and values that he instigates (Genesis 3:1; 1 John 2:16).

? Satan’s kingdom enslaves its citizens (Romans 6:16). With darkened hearts and minds, we blindly follow our leader into the very sins that pull us deeper into slavery. We remain captives in this kingdom of sin, headed for destruction, until Jesus frees us (Ephesians 2:1–4). Philippians 3:18–19 highlights the differences between those who desire fellowship with Jesus Christ and those who focus on earthly pursuits: “For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.” Those who do not know Christ live only for this world and the pleasure they can find for themselves. They are “citizens” of this world and live by its rules and value system.

When we are born again by faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:3), we are born into the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 3:2; 7:21; Romans 14:17). Speaking of those who have had that spiritual rebirth, Philippians 3:20 says, “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus spent much of His earthly ministry explaining the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 4:17). He compared it to many things, including a wheat field in which weeds grew along with the wheat. The plants appeared identical at first, but were separated at the harvest. The truth is, often the citizens of heaven and those of this world appear identical, and no one but God knows the difference (Romans 8:19). Many people may appear to be citizens of heaven, when, in fact, no rebirth has ever taken place in their hearts (Matthew 7:21).

When God grants us citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven, we become “new creatures” (2 Corinthians 5:17). He sends His Holy Spirit to indwell our spirits, and our bodies become His temple (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19–20). The Holy Spirit begins to transform our sinful, worldly desires into those that glorify God (Romans 12:1–2). His goal is to make us as much like Jesus as possible in this life (Romans 8:29). We are given the power and privilege of exiting the world’s flawed value system and living for eternity (1 John 2:15–17). To be adopted into the family of God means that we become citizens of an eternal kingdom where our Father is the King. Our focus turns toward eternal things and storing up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19–20). We consider ourselves ambassadors to this earth until our Father sends for us and we go home (Ephesians 2:18–19; 6:20).

We live for a short time in these physical bodies, anticipating the bright future in our real home. While here, we share Abraham’s experience, living “like a stranger in a foreign country. . . looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:9–10). Questions about the Christian Life

A Window on the World

In March 2020 a sudden lockdown took place--in every nation--because the annual flu season was out of the ordinary. It's impossible to get earth's 195 nations to agree on anything--apart from an intervention by God from outside the system. Therefore God did something big--which He does from time to time.

In sovereign power Jesus currently manages the universe through a divine council of high angels--good angels and bad. It seems likely the Jesus replaced the high angel in charge of earth's health and welfare --replaced the incumbent angel with a really bad guy. March 2020.

Obviously Jesus is the CEO of the divine council and He knows what He is doing. Jesus is sovereign over all the angels, ruling over the dark-side as well as over the obvious institutions of church and state. See God and the Lockdown and The Left Hand of God, and The Management of the Universe.

The Lockdown has had huge repercussions everywhere. Debate over Covid vaccinations is but one small pieces of the pie. Inflation, unemployment, rioting are increasingly troublesome. Covid refuses to go away. Government seems powerless to fix anything. Most of us are in denial about the world being turned upside down.

Every few decades local stirrings in some parts of the Christian Church have been accompanied by Rapturitis, Date Setting for the return of Christ, and all manner of Escapism hopes by members of the uncomfortable sector. The backlash from failed-Rapture scenarios brought a general denial of all the Bible DOES say about the return of her absent King. There is--for sure--renewed interest in the Rapture lately by a small fraction of earth's Christians. This time it's a global stirring, not merely local. But few see the big picture--which presupposes some understanding of the entire Bible. Many Christians are praying for revival, which is very unlikely!

The quality of life everywhere has dropped sharply in the last hundred years as any old-timer can tell you. Fifty years ago about a third of Americans professed to be Christians. Right now perhaps 5-10% of us are actually members of the forever family of Jesus Christ. Most followers of Jesus today are not visible, may not attend a church or stand out in a crowd. See The Church Papers

A compounding factor is today's near total Bible illiteracy! It turns out not sufficient--if you want to see the big picture--to know a few memory verses, or to merely hang out with the like-minded in a local church. See The Church Papers. See also The Body of Christ in Perilous Times. A great falling away, or apostasy, is the only realistic position to take hold of now. See The Rapture Joint in Time.

When the Rapture does happen, probably very soon, everyone rich or poor, young of old, closeted or compromised--everyone who knows Jesus personally as Lord that is, will be caught up to a safe place--to New Jerusalem.

The references at the end of this article should help those interested to see what the Bible really says. Above all, please know that Jesus Christ is alive and well, and yes, on His way back even now. Furthermore, He wants no one to perish. He will personally confirm your membership in His Forever Family.

Because the true church is the Body of true believers--not an institution--the Great Lockdown has made it difficult for those who do know Jesus to meet, to pray, to help one another, to study the Bible.

Priority One: Make sure you know Jesus personally as your Lord. Work diligently in our immediate family to see that all know Jesus (not always possible). Connect with fellow believers in your neighborhood, at the office. Small groups are where it's at--like the early church before Constantine. Small Group Guidelines.

Keep a low profile! Stay below the radar! Hunker Down.

| "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching
and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.“ (Colossians 3:1-17)