Have you ever heard the expression, “you are so heavenly minded you are of no earthly good,”? There is some truth in that, but I believe the opposite is also valid, “you are so earthly minded you are of no heavenly good.” We need to find a balance between having a heavenly mindset and at the same time involved in the affairs of this life. In thinking about this seemingly contradiction of perspectives, my eyes fell on the words of Jesus in Luke, chapter 20. In this passage, Jesus is refuting the Sadducees about their confusion regarding the resurrection of the dead. This sect of Judaism did not believe in life after death. They held to the above-mentioned expression that emphasizes earthly involvement. Jesus responded by saying that God is the God of the living not the dead, meaning that as being the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they were alive in heaven. In verse 36, Jesus explains that those who are in heaven are “equal to angels, for they are the sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.”
The resurrection of the dead is a pivotal and foundational teaching of Christ. (Hebrews 6:1-2) It establishes the basis for our faith and the hope of eternal life. (1 Corinthians 15:13-14) In the resurrection, death, sin and the devil were defeated. It marked the definitive victory over the domain of darkness. In understanding the importance of the resurrection, we can bridge the gap between heaven and earth. In other words, we can be both heavenly and earthly minded. Jesus said that those who were redeemed by His death were made children of God by His resurrection. This is just as much a present reality as it is a future hope. Because Christ rose from the dead, we are seated with Him in heavenly places; the old has passed away and all has become new. This is a present and future reality.
Many have a hard time reconciling this time-space continuum with eternal realities. In the Bible, we see that Martha was one that found it difficult to understand the present vs future aspect of the resurrection. When her brother, Lazarus, died, Jesus was still in Galilee. He arrived four days after Lazarus’ death, and to Mary and Martha, it was four days too late. Jesus comforted Martha by saying that Lazarus would rise from the dead. She responded: “I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.” (John 11:24) This is such a natural response in a time grieving. But Jesus was speaking of resurrection in the present, not the future. He said: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet he shall live.” (v.25) By believing in the Lord Jesus we have eternal life that begins in the present and goes on to all eternity.
Paul expands on the present reality of the resurrection by comparing it to baptism. He said: “Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:16) Christ’s resurrection is our resurrection. His life is our life. We are now “seated with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6) Can you see life from this resurrected perspective? “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1) From our heavenly mindedness we are spiritual here on the earth; we are righteousness and holy and abounding in every good work. Because of the resurrection, our home is in heaven, we are children of the Most High, and members of His family. Let us always remember that we are sons of the resurrection who resist temptation, who have defeated the devil, and who have eternal life.
Scriptures to meditate on: Luke 20:36; 1 Corinthians 15:42-49; 2 Corinthians 5:17, 21; Colossians 2:12; 3:1