65 Ministries

In our tradition, songs like “Mansions Over the Hilltop” are often sung in our worship services. In this song, you read and sing lyrics like, “I’m satisfied with just a cottage below / A little silver and a little gold / But in that city where the ransomed will shine / I want a gold one that’s silver lined” and “I want a mansion, a robe, and a crown.” Another song in this vein is “Mansion, Robe, and a Crown.” 

The reason I bring this is up because I question if this should be our goal as Christians? I think when we focus on the nice things we may or may not be getting in our next life in the new heavens and new earth, we have a skewed focus as Christians. In my experience and judgment, this focus leads to a type of Christianity where we ask, “what do I get from God?” rather than asking “how can I serve God and His kingdom?”

To prove this point, I want to discuss two almost parallel passages. The first of which is Isaiah 6. The prophet Isaiah is brought into the throneroom of God. In this scene, He sees angelic beings called seraphim surrounding the throne, saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:3b, ESV). Then, after only seeing the train or hem of God’s robe and hearing the thundering sound of His voice, Isaiah cries out about his spiritual uncleanliness (6:5). Then, after receiving spiritual purification, immediately volunteers to go out on God’s behalf when He makes it known that He needs someone to accomplish a mission (6:8-13). 

The second passage I want to discuss is Revelation 4. John is brought to see the throneroom of God. In this scene, yes the jewels and thrones are described but the focus is immediately sent to, once again, the angelic beings shouting “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty” (4:8b). Then, the elders around the throne fall before the throne and cast their crowns around the throne of God and they recognize God’s glory, honor, and power (4:9-11). 

In both of these passages the majesty of God was emphasized. Even when the surrounding details of the jewels and throne were described, the central focus was on God and who He is! This links with what Paul says in Philippians, “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” (1:23b). Paul’s desire to enter into what comes after is not the things he may or may not get, but to be with our Savior! Even shifting our goal as Christians to this, the holiness of God and the desire to be with Christ, is an improvement over focusing on what we receive. 

How else can we improve the goals or targets that we aim for in our Christian walk? One way is to adopt the willing and self sacrificial mindset of both Isaiah and Paul. We as Christians are called to be willing to go and spread the message of God in our local contexts just as Isaiah was willing to take the message of God and preach it to his context! If you continue reading in Philippians 1, you read, “But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again” (1:24-26). This is a self sacrificial mindset where Paul is willing to give up what is better for him to benefit the whole body of believers. We should be willing to spread the message of Christ or bear the burdens of our fellow siblings in Christ even when it hurts us.

I want to call Christians to shift our focus at times to focus, not on how faith benefits us, but how we, as purified and sanctified believers, can benefit God and others.