A Heavenly Calling (7)

For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said:
“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”Hebrews 3.14, 15

Ready for partaking
We have seen that the heavenly calling is a calling from heaven, for heaven, and to heaven. It comes to us from God, speaking out of His Word, and summons us to a higher life, one that mirrors the beauties and virtues of the throne room of God.

This is full faith living, and living such a life will deliver us ultimately into the eternal bliss and glory of the heavenly rest of God.

All of this, all this glorious heavenly calling, is ready for us to share in by considering Jesus, trusting in Him, and through knowing and obeying Him, being faithful to God.

The true Christian, the believer who is increasing in full faith, is the one who, having professed faith in Jesus, strives each day to share in the heavenly calling, filled with hope, joy, confidence, and resolve to honor God with all our hearts, minds, words, and deeds.

And if we persist in this life, thus proving that we do, indeed, belong to Jesus, the day is coming, our writer promises, when we will actually partake of  Jesus in a very real and special way. The Apostle John looked forward to the day when we would finally see Jesus face to face. He said that on that day we would be like Jesus – like Him, but not Him. We who believe are not on our way to becoming little gods. But we are on our way to becoming like God, and to sharing in the resurrection and glorified life of Jesus Christ in the new heavens and new earth (1 Jn. 3.1-3).

A coming day
What does this mean?

It means that a day is coming when our bodies and souls will be completely delivered from the penalty, power, and presence of sin. We will be “saved to the uttermost” by our great High Priest Who is even now interceding for us and preparing a place for us to be with Him forever.

All our thoughts and affections – pure!

All our desires and conversations – holy!

All our actions toward others – just and loving!

All our interactions with God’s new creation – perfect stewardship!

All our worship of God – entirely in the Spirit and truth of the Lord!

No longer will guilt or shame dress or drag us down. No longer will physical weaknesses or ailments keep us from enjoying life. No longer will we have to fear the trials of life, threats of danger, or the coming grave. When we see Jesus and begin fully to partake of His life and glory, then our heavenly calling will make complete sense, and we will be very glad – eternally glad – that we made it a point to pursue that heavenly calling during the years of our earthly sojourn.

What about you? Do you have the sense of being endowed with a heavenly calling? Have you heard the Word of God calling you to the pursuit of full faith, to leave behind your unbelieving, sinful ways, and to embark on a life of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit (Rom. 14.17, 18)? Have you trusted in Jesus – really trusted in Him, so that you are sharing in His heavenly calling and striving to be faithful to God every day? Do you seek out the face of Jesus, for the glory revealed there? Do you cast aside all grumbling, complaining, and every self-seeking, self-serving way in order to show and share Jesus with others?

Is it the highest joy of your life to share in a daily walk with Jesus, and to anticipate the day when you will partake of Him fully, forever?

Serious about the heavenly calling?
Friends, the world is weary of two-bit Christians. If you call yourself a Christian but you really aren’t serious about taking up and sharing in God’s heavenly calling, then admit right now that your faith is not genuine, and either lay it aside and get on with your life, or seek out someone who can lead you to the really real world of full faith, to the Kingdom of God, where you can know, enjoy, and serve the Lord of glory in every area of your life.

There is a heavenly calling, dear friends, and it is really real. If you share in it, you know it. If you don’t – you can. The question is whether you will? Well, that’s entirely up to you.

For reflection or discussion
1.  What is heaven? What does it mean to “go to heaven”? What’s the difference between going to heaven and the new heavens and new earth?

2.  What’s the difference between being like Jesus and being Jesus?

3.  How should knowing the destination of our heavenly calling affect our daily progress in that calling?

Next steps – Conversation: How would you present the “heavenly calling” to an unsaved friend? Make a little outline, practice saying it with some Christian friends, then try it out in a conversation with an unsaved neighbor or co-worker. As you do, “listen” for God to guide your conversation while you listen to your friend’s responses and questions.

T. M. Moore

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This week’s ReVision study is Part 9 of a 10-part series, “Full Faith.” You can download “A Heavenly Calling” as a free PDF, prepared for personal or group study. Simply click here.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.