What’s gone wrong if a Christian isn’t thriving?
Posted at Reformation Scotland:
A Christian believer belongs to heaven and should live in the awareness of heavenly realities, with one eye fixed on Jesus there and one foot always in the mansion prepared there for them. The scent of heaven should perfume everything the believer does here on earth. When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he called them to follow him (Philippians 3:17) because our citizenship “is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). James Durham, preaching on this text, discussed how we have many interactions with heaven and lots of business to do in heaven constantly. Towards the end of his sermon, Durham becomes very pointed in inquiring of his hearers whether they are actually endeavouring to do as Paul says and follow him in this heavenly way of life. The following updated extract finds Durham asking whether we are really thriving in the Christian walk.Paul calls us to follow him (Phil. 3:17) because our citizenship “is in heaven” (Phil 3:20). We may use this doctrine to find out who is a real Christian, and a thriving Christian. It serves to expose and to convict, and indeed it may very easily and quickly expose the unsoundness of many, and the shortcoming of all. Need I elaborate on this? It is a truth obvious to all, that Christians are called and obliged to be heavenly in their manner of life. For that matter, is not yet much more requisite in a Christian, a divineness beyond what we can express?
If you are (as really you should be) convinced that this is a truth, then let me ask you if this describes your own walk. Put your own conscience to it. Enquire of your conscience whether your trade is to heaven, whether your peace and joy, your delight and satisfaction are there? Would God you would attempt this, and could on good ground say that it is so! But is there any who can say it without some hesitation? Is not the best of Christians exceedingly defective? Of those who say that it is so, I must ask many of you, What then is the meaning of your carnalness, the power of your lusts, your moods and passions which unfit you for spiritual things? What can explain why you plead so much for self-interest, and turn the world almost upside down for your own wishes? How does it come about that some of you are profane, and spend so much of your precious time in tippling, and trifle away so much of it unprofitably in many other ways? Dare you say that you who walk like this are really followers of the Apostle Paul? But if you dare not say that you follow him in his heavenly walk, can you think or expect to dwell with him in heaven?
O! be not deceived, for God will not be mocked. When you reflect seriously on yourselves and on your way, will you not find just ground for being ashamed and confounded before God? Is there any of us all, who lacks a reason to go to the throne of grace, to confess and crave pardon for our sinful shortcoming in this?
