Heaven and Earth

Philippians 3:17-20New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

There's a tension in scripture that is worth thinking about: that of the earthly or worldly realm and that of the heavenly realm.  Sometimes it's referred to as things of the flesh vs. things of the spirit.

For me, it's an unfortunate pattern for us that Paul falls into.  Unfortunate for us, because I think we have gotten into the habit of latching on to that rather dualistic way of seeing God's creation.  As if mystical, spiritual, heavenly things are good and earthly, fleshy, worldly things are bad.

As if we are just biding time on this rock until the fun starts in heaven.

The truth is that the good Lord created it all.  And so "flesh" and "earth" are not innately bad.

For Paul however, things of heaven is code of things of God.  So, while the language may be confusing and perhaps not even accessible or accurate for our time, it's good to know something about what Paul is getting at here.

The cross of Christ - which Paul notes has its "enemies" - is the place where transformation happens.  Whether you want to use words like heaven or earth or flesh or spirit, what Paul is letting the followers of Christ know is that the cross of Christ causes change.  It makes things new.  It brings about transformation.

When the shadow of the cross of Christ crosses your path, your identity changes.  You are a new creation.  You are of God.

Paul wants his followers - and us too I believe - to know that with Jesus everything has changed.  We have changed, and the world has changed.

Our identity has changed.

We are of God.  Both here on earth and in the heavenly realms.

God of life, you have claimed us.  Help us not to get caught up in making divisions in your world, but instead help us to live into the identity you have given us.  Amen.