Where are we looking? — UHD 14:6

We need a balance. Showing tangible expressions of Jesus’ love helps people to see Jesus’ love. It is my opinion that Christians should be among the best stewards of God’s creation and should show compassion for the poor, oppressed, and homeless. I would by all means become all things to whatever audience in order that by any means possible, someone would come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. But the goal of these earthly pursuits is clear in Scripture. What does it profit the people of this world to have their house rebuilt or their bank accounts balanced if they lose their own soul for all eternity? On the other hand, how can I say that my faith is real if I close my pocketbook or become stingy with my time?

When the church puts too much emphasis on the things of this earth, they lose their unique purpose in this earth. If we are more impressed by the things that we can see with our physical eyes than we are by the things that we do not see that are eternal, then we look like any humanitarian philanthropist rather than someone who is “called out” of this world.

Putting too much of our time, money, energy and resources into material or financial things is a bad investment. Everything that we see with our physical eyes is temporary. What we do not see is spiritual and eternal. We are told by God to focus on the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, not on the things of this earth. At the same time, a season of service to help someone put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ makes the investment worth it.

In my opinion, when these pursuits are out of balance, another vital element of our Christian life is lost. When we become earthbound to tangible things we see, we undermine the importance of faith in Christian living. Faith looks at things that cannot be seen and is certain of those things. When we turn our attention to creation care and building houses we tend to ignore heavenly things that we cannot see and as an unintended result we diminish the importance of faith.

^NIV Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

^NAU 2 Corinthians 4:18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

^NAU 1 Peter 1:8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

^NAU Colossians 3:1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

Ambassadors charged with interference with the internal affairs of the host country

Jesus said “my kingdom is not of this world.” Instead, Jesus has commissioned every Christian to be an ambassador of his heavenly kingdom, to serve as an official representative of the Lord Jesus Christ to the “foreign culture” found on this earth. An ambassador is a citizen of the sending country, not the host country. As ambassadors of Christ, our job is to take the message of the gospel to every person in the host country, not to change its laws or social structures.

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is an international treaty adopted on 18 April 1961 by the United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Intercourse and Immunities held in Vienna, Austria, from 2 March to 14 April. Article 41 of the Vienna Convention states that it is the job of an ambassador to “respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.”

When Jesus came into the world, people wanted Jesus to take over the earth and make it His kingdom and enforce His laws on the culture. But that was not his appointed mission, nor is it the Church’s appointed mission. Jesus did not seek to change one social structure, one civil or criminal system, or even organize to reach the poor and disenfranchised of the world. Since God made us ambassadors, we have no authority from God to change governments, social structures or laws, or to interfere in the internal political affairs of the receiving country of this world.

Let’s be faithful to maintain the priority of our appointed task as ambassadors who are citizens of heaven, not earth.

John 18:36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

18:37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.