A Colony Of Heaven
Philippians 3:13-21 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”
In this passage Paul describes some changes that should mark the life of a believer. He sets the bar of Christian living very high for himself and for all those who profess to follow him as he follows the Lord Jesus Christ. He also clearly points out that among the Philippians there are those who are traitors to the cause. Those whose attitudes, actions and associations reflect a worldly focus rather than a heavenly outlook. He rebukes those and then urges those who are seeking to be true disciples to focus upon heavenly things.
Why? Because in essence they are already citizens of heaven. As children of the King of heaven, they are citizens of a Kingdom of light, not darkness. “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” (I Thess. 5:5) Peter also urged all believers to consider this spiritual birthright and heavenly citizenship as an impetus to sacrificially serve the living God. “But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (I Pet. 2:9)
The Philippians could easily understand the concept of colonization. Their fair city was the center of a Roman colony. It was a busy cosmopolitan city. It was also a multicultural city. As a cultural trade center, its citizens came from all over the Roman Empire. Although they were Phiippians geographically, the one thing they had in common was their allegiance to Caesar and his Empire.
The application to a New Testament Church in any city in any geographical area on earth at any time in history is clear. We are also already citizens of a COLONY OF HEAVEN. We should understand this world is not our home. We are just passing through this veil of tears on our way to our heavenly home. As indicated by the writer of the Hebrew letter, we have a continuing city whose Builder and Maker is God. We are wayfarers, pilgrims trekking to a better land.
We are to be in this world, but not of it. In fact, we live in enemy territory. The greater world around us is temporarily controlled and governed by the god of this world. “ .. . know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4b) “ In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not . .” (II Cor. 4:4a)
What does this all mean? We are in a situation somewhat similar to those who are expatriates in a foreign land. We live and breath on foreign soil. I have been to the Australian Consulate in New York City, USA. Inside its walls you will find all sorts of not too subtle reminders of the great land down under. Any Australian living and working in the “Big Apple” would be reminded of his home and feel like he was in a little bit of Australia when he goes inside. If you drive along embassy row in on our nation’s capitol of Canberra, you will also note that the grounds and architectural style of each embassy compound seems to say, “We are citizens of another land.” Technically, once you step inside, you are on foreign soil and all the rules and regulations of that country are applicable.
We are to testify the same to the world in which we live. When we light the little corner where we are, we are to shine forth a little bit of our heavenly home. We live on foreign soil and in an alien world far from our real home. We are to be defined and distinguished by heavenly ways that are peculiar to the sons and daughters of God. We are to proudly and purely represent our King, the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul called us ambassadors called to offer heavenly citizenship to those in the world in which we live. There are certain expectations raised if we are to be a part of a true COLONY OF HEAVEN in this foreign land. If we are truly seeking that City whose Builder and Maker is God:
WE ARE TO BE HEAVENLY IN OUR ATTITUDES. (Verse 15) This should not be too difficult of we have a real loyalty to our Sovereign and our heavenly family. New believers in particular usually immediately manifest a radical change in their thinking and attitude toward the world around them. After all, they are new creatures in Christ Jesus and their mind is to be renewed by the Holy Spirit of God. (II Cor. 5:17, Ro. 12:2)
hose who are considering becoming true believers and citizens of a heavenly colony on earth, sometimes say, “If I become a Christian what will I do about my friends who aren’t Christians?” I have found that those who are truly saved by the grace of God do not have a great deal of difficulty with this. As the Holy Spirit of God converts them and then works in them to change their outlook and attitude toward the worldly things there friends value so highly, their so-called friends will either seek to know their God or will drift way from them because the life of a truly changed citizen of heaven will bring conviction to those who are in this world.
The words of our Saviour often come to life in such a situation, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” (John 3:19-21)
John also tells us that even those who have pretended to be citizens of heaven will ultimately go away from the light that shines brightly in the lives of true believers in a New Testament Church, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us: but [they went out], that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” (I John 3:19)
Some also ask how will they deal with the sin question and questions of rightness and wrongness once they become true believers? As believers mature, they, like Paul, manifest a growing sense of personal imperfection. As they study the Word and yield themselves to the Holy Spirit of God in His role as a “heavenly policeman,” their outlook and attitudes are gradually brought into an increasing harmony with their citizenship in a heavenly colony.
After we are saved it is not what is right or wrong so much as it is; how do we do that which is right? Citizens of heaven who are living temporarily in the colony of heaven on earth should know that their attitudes should always reflect their heavenly citizenship. “ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” (Col. 3:1-3) Our minds should be focused upon the heavenly standards set by our heavenly Father and lived out upon the earth by His own dear Son.
I well remember leaving home and joining the armed forces. This led to travel to far away places. But I can also recall that no matter how far I roamed I always thought of home. This reminds me somewhat of that song loved dearly by most Aussies: “I Still Call Australia Home.” My thoughts and desires seemed to always be influenced by the home I had come from. One of the strongest factors in my conduct and behaviour was the influence of a Godly mother and father. I did not wish to betray their trust. I did not wish to violate their standards. I did not wish to bring reproach upon my family. When I did occasionally do so, it always led to feelings of guilt and recriminations and a reassessment of my values.
The scriptures make it clear that a New Testament Church is the basic colony of heaven on earth. Jesus prayed that such a colony would have and manifest a unity of attitude that would lead to a unity of message and mission. (John 17:17) He said He would send the Holy Spirit to teach us and lead us into a unity of all truth. (John 16:13a) Just as Israel was guided by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night from a foreign land into the land of promise, so the Holy Spirit strives to bring us into complete unity with Christ and with one another until that blessed day we arrive home in heaven to be with Him forever.
Yes, attitude is all important in the colony of heaven on earth. Paul appeals to the church family at Phillipi: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (Phil. 2:5) He appeals to two members of the church who seem to be the focus of some contention in the church with these words: “ I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.” (Phil. 4:2) Isn’t it amazing that His solution for harmony and agreement was that both should have the attitude of Christ and agree with Him?
That would be the real solution to so many of the conflicts that arise in our relationships. Even in interpersonal relationships in our homes and at work. When all the individuals in a relationship or a group are attuned to the mind of Christ, then the way of peace Paul describes in this chapter will surely prevail. Such unity is essential for those who would be laborers together with Christ. (I Cor. 3:9)
It begins when we yield ourselves to the invitation of Christ to become yoke fellows with Him. (Matt. 11:28-30) Those who have been involved in using a yoke or team of beasts such as oxen, mules or horses, understand the absolute necessity of a oneness of attitude and purpose. A novice would have difficulty getting such a team to walk together much less cooperate in pulling a great load. Only when the driver of the team is able to take complete command and control of the attitude and purpose of the members of the team can fruitful work be done. Only when we are yoked together with Christ and adopt His attitude and purpose for our life can we reach our full potential in our labors together for Him.
WE ARE TO BE HEAVENLY IN OUR ACTIONS. (Verse 16) As a citizen of a colony of heaven on earth, we should be heavenly in our behavior. The life of every true believer clearly should reflect the teachings of our Savior. Both Paul and John summed it up with this simple instruction: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him:” (Col. 2:6) “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (I John 2:6) Our lives and our actions should reflect the doctrines and teachings of His New Testament. In it we have an all sufficient rule of faith and practice. (II Tim. 3:16-17)
When colonies are established, they normally have the same body of laws and rules of conduct as the mother country. In Australia, this body of law is called English Common law. It is not unreasonable to expect the inhabitants of the colony to respect and obey that law in the first instance. The parallel is obvious. The actions of the inhabitants of a colony of heaven on earth should be governed by the body of heavenly law given by our eternal law giver. His laws are eternal absolutes. (Psalm 119:89)
Relativism, the ruling philosophy of the secular world, has no place in the life of a citizen of heaven. The result would be spiritual anarchy: everyone doing what is right in his own eyes and thus doing what is wrong in God’s eyes.
Some may say the teachings and doctrines of the New Testament are too narrow and pedantic. They would in essence be advocating lawlessness. The colony of heaven is part of a royal monarchy, ruled by the King of Heaven. His commands and decrees are absolute and non- negotiable. Those who advocate less than total and detailed obedience to the commands, teachings and doctrines of the New Testament are in essence advocating treason against the Head of the colony of heaven on earth. Jesus is the Head. “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the pre- eminence.” (Col. 1:18) It is clear the ACTIONS of citizens of the colony of heaven on earth should always be governed by, “thus saith the Lord.”
If you visit another country or perhaps even immigrate there, it does not take long to recognize that many things are different. Language, dress, customs, standards and sometimes even sports are radical different. Those coming to Australia soon learn that different football codes and cricket are a very intricate and important part of the culture. In spite of what many who speak of multiculturalism might think and say, it then becomes the responsibility of the person seeking citizenship to adopt to the culture of his new country.
When we become citizens of a heavenly colony, it is our responsibility to assimilate. We can no longer conform to the world from which we came. We must be transformed. Paul says it perfectly: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Ro.12:2) The changes should be unique and noticeable. We must, as Daniel, dare to be different. We should march to a different drummer. Their god is not our god any longer. We are called upon to follow our King in every way. We are to walk even as He walked. We are to be living epistles of His love to the world in which we live. (II Cor. 3:3)
The colony of heaven on earth has been given one basic underlying law that should rule the hearts and lives of all its citizens. This is the law of love. Our sovereign Savior was gracious enough to give two clear expressions of it that no citizen of His Kingdom could misunderstand. “ And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” (Luke 10:27) (See also John 13:34-35) It should be quite clear that if the members of each colony of heaven on earth let these commands rule and reign in the hearts and lives, the world in which we live would surely know who we are and would be a better place for seeing the love of Christ placed into daily ACTION.
I once read of the head of a huge corporation who had a unique interviewing technique when he was seeking key executives for his company. At some point in the interview he would become very difficult, unreasonable and perhaps even downright offensive. If the unsuspecting candidate reacted with wisdom and grace, he or she got the job. If not, he was quietly dropped and never even knew the reason why he was not employed. The application is obvious. The world needs to see the fruits of the Spirit in our actions as we respond to the tests and trials of life.
For a colony to survive and be successful, it must be productive. If you read Australian history, you will soon find that one of the great concerns of the first settlements was to produce enough to merely survive and then to become self-sufficient and prosperous. A study of early American history tells the same tale. In fact, it seems the first colony established by Sir Walter Raleigh and John White in Virginia did not rise to the challenge and just disappeared. They became known as the “lost colony.” The story of the struggles of the pilgrim fathers just to produce enough to survive is well known also.
The primary purpose of a colony of heaven on earth is reproduction and propagation. Our charter focuses upon that fact. (Matt. 28:19-20) Jesus said we will be known by our fruits. The fruits of the Spirit are: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Gal. 5:22-23)
But in a practical sense, what are saved people supposed to lovingly produce through living the Spirit filled life? Other saved people, of course. In a practical sense, what are New Testament Churches supposed to produce? Ultimately, other New Testament Churches. If we are to be good citizens of our colony of heaven on earth OUR ACTIONS as ambassadors will focus upon this. “And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (II Cor. 5:19- 20)
WE ARE TO BE HEAVENLY IN OUR ASSOCIATIONS. (Verse 17) Many of heaven’s richest blessings hinge upon our interactions and associations. Whether it be the two or three Jesus spoke of or the thousands who were added to the first church after Pentecost, His power and presence relates to the unity of our fellowship and our oneness in Him. We need to understand the full blessings of our heavenly fellowship on earth. We need to strive to maintain and promote it. Paul tells the church at Ephesus that we are to be, “fitly framed together.” (Eph. 4:16) We are called to come together and stick together. But in a sense, each of us is called to provide our own cement. It is up to us to stick to each other through thick and thin. There is a certain essential spiritual warmth that can only come from such fellowship.
If you have ever had a camping experience and built a roaring camp fire, you know what it means to build up a large bed of red hot glowing coals. The heat is tremendous. The mass of coals together radiate tremendous warmth to those who huddle around. But what do you do if you wish to leave and make sure the fire is extinguished and the warmth no longer exists? Just scatter the coals widely. Very soon each coal will be a dark and dead cinder of its former self. The application is obvious. We in the colony of heaven desperately need each other in the cold and dark world in which we live.
Just what is this real fellowship that each of us needs to give and receive in the colony of heaven?
As I said at the beginning, in this passage Paul describes some changes that should mark the life of a believer. He sets the bar of Christian living very high for himself and for all those who profess to follow him as he follows the Lord Jesus Christ. He also clearly points out that there are those who are traitors to the cause. Those whose attitudes, actions and associations reflect a worldly focus rather than a heavenly outlook. He rebukes those and then urges those who are seeking to be true disciples to focus upon heavenly things. Again, we are to tell the old, old story of his love to the world in which we live.
When we light the little corner where we are, we are to shine forth a little bit of our heavenly home. We live on foreign soil and in an alien world far from our real home. We are to be defined and distinguished by heavenly ways that are peculiar to the sons and daughters of God. As ambassadors we are called to proudly and purely represent our King, the Lord Jesus Christ to a hurting world that desperately needs the healing that only the King of Heaven can afford!
