Heavenly Mindedness (12)

 

 

Continuing our reflections on Geerhardus Vos’s Message on “Heavenly Mindedness” from Hebrews 11:9 – 10:

 

“Let us try briefly to analyze what this other-worldliness of the patriarchs involved, and in what respects it will be well for us to cultivate it. The first feature to be noted is that it is not essentially negative but positive in character. The core lies not in what it relinquishes but in what it seeks. Escape from the world here below and avoidance of the evil in the world do not furnish its primary motive. That is true only of the abnormal, morbid type of other-worldliness, that connected with pessimism and monastic seclusion. From an unwarranted identification with these the true grace portrayed by Scripture has been exposed to much ill-considered criticism and fallen into disrepute.

 

“If heavenly-mindedness were an upward flight in the ignominious sense of the word, it would be the very opposite to the heroism of genuine faith, a seeking for a harbor of refuge, instead of a steering for the haven of home. Do not misunderstand me. It is only right that in some measure the bitter experience of sin and evil should contribute to the Christian’s desire for heaven. The attraction of heaven is in part the attraction of freedom from sin. And not a little of the contempt poured upon it, while pretending to protest against cloistered withdrawal, springs in reality from a defective perception of the seriousness of sin.

 

“Where the eye has not by divine grace been opened to the world’s wickedness, it is easy to look with disdain on the Christian’s world-shyness. But the Christian, who knows that the end of sin cannot come until the end of this world, looks at the question in a light of his own. He is fully warranted in considering ridicule of this kind part of the reproach of Christ and bearing it with joy. Nor should we forget, that an excess of interest in the present life, when shown in the name of religion, is apt, in our day, to be a symptom of doubt or unbelief in regard to the life to come.

 

“Still the principle remains in force, that the desirability of heaven should never possess exclusively or mainly negative significance. It is not something first brought into the religious mind through sin. The lineage and birth-right of other-worldliness are of the oldest and noblest. By God Himself this traveler’s unrest was implanted in the soul.” Vos.

 

Let’s remind ourselves of the words of our Lord Jesus, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:17). Also, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:19).

 

Do we not know that the very word “church” (ekklesia) speaks to us of being “called out” as a designated group of people? We are called out of the world and unto, and into, Christ. To live as a heavenly-minded people is to live in this awareness; of what we have been called out from and of what we have been called unto. Sadly, the elixir of compromise has so seduced us that there is little distinction between the professing – church and the world.

 

When there are distinctions, those distinctions are often what Vos terms “essentially…negative in character.” In other words, the focus is on building a negative wall between Christians and the world that emphasizes “don’t touch, don’t taste, don’t associate,” as opposed to focusing on the person of Jesus Christ. In my own life I have learned that it is much easier to define myself in terms of what I am opposed to, rather than by those things I affirm and support. This may be in part because of my temperament, and it may also be because I am lazy; whatever the cause, it is a temptation I have succumbed to more than once. (“Monastic seclusion” is not limited to monasteries, many of which have rightly engaged their surrounding communities; we can see monastic seclusion in local congregations and denominations.)

 

Yet, we are called to deny ourselves, we are called, in Christ, to reckon ourselves “dead to sin and live to God” (Romans 6:11). And for sure, as Vos acknowledges, it is natural to look forward to a time when there will no longer be the poison of sin within our system, nor any remembrance of the hideousness of sin in our lives, nor any temptation! But – our message is not primarily one of escape but of fulfillment – for it is not a desire to escape which propels my heart, but rather a desire for Jesus…more and more of Jesus. Heavenly – mindedness is not nurtured by escapism but by a longing for home, by a realization that we are children of another world, loved by our Father, saved by our Lord Jesus, being transformed by the Holy Spirit.

 

“‘I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.’  His disciples said, ‘O my, now you are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech.’” (John 16:28 – 29). While the apostles may not have intellectually understood what Jesus was saying, something within them identified with this declaration; this Word of Jesus elicited a spark of heavenly – mindedness.

 

Vos writes of the Christian considering “ridicule of this kind part of the reproach of Christ and bearing it with joy.” What does “this kind” mean? It means saying “yes” to Christ and “no” to the world. It means that we live as citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:30) under the constitution of God’s Kingdom, under obedience to Jesus Christ as King. Do we know what it is to bear this reproach?

 

My I gently ask, that if we do not know what it is to bear this reproach, then how have we been living? How is it possible to live in the world, work in the world, go to school in the world, engage in the political processes of the world, participate in the civic and social life of the world…and not know what it is to bear the reproach of Jesus Christ? Indeed, how is it possible to participate in the life of the broader church culture and not know what it is to bear the reproach of Christ?

 

Consider these words from Hebrews 13:13 – 14, “So, let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.” When we are heavenly – minded we will often find ourselves outside circles of people – because we are seeking the city which is to come. For the heavenly – minded man or woman, the gravitational pull of the City of God is greater than that of the City of Man.

 

Have we trained one another to be chameleons, blending into our surroundings so as not to be identified with Jesus Christ and His Kingdom? If we have not done this, then we ought to know what it is to bear the reproach of Christ outside the camp, outside the ways of the City of Man, outside the ways of religious and political and economic Babylon.

 

Sometimes this reproach is overt, sometimes covert, sometimes we are encouraged to go along to get along, sometimes we are threatened. Let us beware of the temptation to rationalize away acquiescence to the world and denial of Christ. Let us not forsake our call to share Christ’s sufferings for His glory and the blessing of others – including those who oppose the grace of God, for after all, we were also once the enemies of Christ.

 

Vos writes, “The lineage and birth-right of other-worldliness are of the oldest and noblest. By God Himself this traveler’s unrest was implanted in the soul.” G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, Blaise Pascal, Fenelon, Augustine, Francis de Sales; throughout history Christ has drawn people to Himself by placing “this traveler’s unrest” within their hearts, minds, and souls. While yes, the image of God within us is defaced by the Fall, it is not obliterated. Within the soil of our souls lies a sense of goodness, truth, beauty, purpose, and destiny.

 

Sadly, this sense is programmed out of us, beaten out of us, threatened out of us, educated out of us, and laid to rest in us by pleasure, materialism, and other seductions. This is one of many reasons the disciple of Jesus Christ desperately needs the Word of God living and abiding in him or her, so that we might behold our Lord Jesus and have our birthright of heavenly – mindedness continually renewed, expanded, and brightened – more and more until that Perfect Day (Proverbs 4:18; 2 Cor. 37 – 18).

 

O Christian, your “lineage” is that of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is that of Jesus Christ. It is of that Holy Spirit which causes us to cry out, “Abba Father!” (Romans 8:15 – 16; Galatians 4:6). You have been called into the koinonia (fellowship, communion) of the heavenly – minded. Embrace your calling in Jesus Christ, love Him, grow in Him; and by His grace bring others with you on your pilgrimage to that City whose Builder and Maker is God.