Jesus said he was going to prepare a place for us so we can be with him. I think it’s safe to call that place Heaven, would you agree? What is that place like? What is Heaven like?
Take a minute and think about that before you finish reading this article.
For real, think about Heaven, where Jesus is walking around right now…
I’m a pastor, so teaching doctrine properly is important, but I want to suspend doctrine for a minute and just think about some things.
Jesus Is At Work
When I think about Jesus preparing a place for us, it makes me think of his prayer “your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” It’s something he wants for us.
I think about what the garden of Eden must have been like, in all its perfection. I think of what it would have been like to see Jesus transform and openly speak with Moses and Elijah. It makes me think of all the supernatural encounters with angels ordinary men and women in the Bible experienced.
It makes me think Jesus must want us to experience Heaven if he’s going through the process of preparing it for us. Like…right now, maybe he’s walking around Heaven inspecting things to make sure they’re just right for you. Maybe he’s walking with your loved ones that have gone before you and they’re excited for you to see what he’s prepared for you. Maybe they’re giving him insight into what you like, helping him make everything just right. WOW!!!
I don’t necessarily have a doctrine for that but I do know he’s preparing a place for us, and it’s fun to think about what it will be like.
Continuing on that same path, I think of these passages that instruct us on what to think about…
Colossians 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Ephesians 4:17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness (fairness) be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Why is there so much focus on your thoughts? Why is there so much instruction on what to think about?
Because as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7a). Because you are transformed by renewing your mind (Romans 12:2).
You do what you think. You attract to you what you think about. Your thoughts determine your emotions which drive choices. Your life is shaped by what you think.
How you think and what you think about are the main factors in the current condition of your life. So if you want an area of your life to change, you first have to start by changing how and what you think in that area.
Practical Application
Pick an area of life you want to change and walk through this process…
Identify the area
Admit the truth to yourself about that area, good or bad
Identify an aspect of the great exchange in Jesus that applies to that area
For example; he died so I can live, he became sin so I can become righteous, he was judged so I can be free, he took on my sorrows so I can have his joy, he took on my disease so I can be healed, he faced temptation so I can overcome sin, he fulfilled that Law so I won’t be judged for righteousness, he became poor so I can be rich
Believe the good report of the results of the Gospel for you
Think about yourself as Colossians 3 says, your old life id dead and you’re now alive in Christ.
Hold the new reality in your heart, mind, and emotions until you become persuaded that your situation can change for the better. Think about it from Heaven’s perspective that it’s already true of you.
Be patient and don’t lose ground in your heart through fear and worry
We are to live in the newness of the spirit. It is possible because Jesus died for us, in Him we are dead to sin and death. But how do we live in it? How do we walk by faith and confidence in him and his faithfulness!! Through mind renewal, just like Abraham. Abraham didn’t consider his infertile body or the deadness of Sarah’s womb, he considered the promise God made.
What promise of God are you considering? What promise of God, that may seem impossible, are you more persuaded of than your current situation?
As we have faith, as we have confidence, we engage in mind-renewal and experience transformation. By remaining patient under tribulation but also walking in love. By casting down imaginations that tell us that God’s promises aren’t for us.
Test Yourself to See If You’re Persuaded of God’s Promise
Think of a promise that relates to your life. You probably already know one, but if you don’t, take a moment and find a promise in the Bible that relates to your situation. Google can find one for you if you don’t know where to look.
Once you have that promise, say it out loud. For example, “I am free from the power of sin.” Or “God gives me the power to get wealth.” Or “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” After you say it out loud, see how you feel inside. Notice if God’s promise feels true for you, or if you feel doubt and unbelief.
IMPORTANT!!
If you feel doubt and unbelief, think about Jesus walking around in Heaven, preparing the perfect place for you. Set your mind above where he is in Heaven, King and Lord of all. He’s paying attention to every detail so it’ll be just right for his brothers and sisters - you and me. He’s excited for Heaven, for all of us to be together. Notice his face, he wants to give you eternal life and take away all the pain and sorrow. He wants to show you what he’s prepared for you.
Now, you probably have no doubt believing that you will have no lack, disease or sorrow in Heaven. I dare you to believe that Jesus wants the same quality of life for you now and is seeking to prepare that kind of life for you, right here, right now.
Yes, we still have these bodies that crave sin if we let them, those bodies are still subject to death, but remember all those instructions on what to think about. Remember that your transformation lies within your mind-renewal. Remember that he’s a good father who will not give you stones if you ask for bread.
The real issue is that you may think change only happens when you get your behavior right. But it’s just the opposite, when you get your thinking right, everything else lines up, from the inside out. His spirit is like a seed within you, growing into kingdom life through you. His will is to build Heaven for you. Dare to dream and believe that God has good things for you in this life and is preparing them for you, even as you read this.
Sit back, relax, and believe.
