Heaven On Earth
I’ve been reading a lot recently about the Kingdom of God. Who we are as we are promised an eternity, by the grace of God, when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. And what that means to us as our responsibilities while here on earth.
I think and write a lot about the family legacy. Impacting my grandchildren’s grandchildren. But as we think about legacy and the responsibility of being a Christian grandfather, I think we can also talk about the example of making an impact on ‘our’ world, those closest to us, by the way we live. So that’s what I wanted to say to you today.
We are not to be just ‘place holders’ in this world. Say a prayer, acknowledge and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and then just ‘hang on’ until He returns or calls us home. We are to live as citizens of Heaven while here on earth. We are to bring heaven to earth.
Jesus brought a new way of living and loving to this world. He showed us that it is no longer about rules but about relationships. He commanded us that it’s about relationships in Matthew 22:39. This is the example we want to show as grandfathers. However, it leaves another legacy, one that goes beyond our own families. We are to put others first (Philippians 2:3.) All against a ‘me first’, ‘its all about me’ culture. Ask yourself – do you represent the values of this world or the values of Heaven? Think about that when thinking of what you’re modeling for your grandchildren. Think about that when thinking about the impact you can have on the world around you.
Why should we do this? For one thing, incorporated with our testimony, it shows people what they too can have when they come to Christ. Another thing is that it attracts people to the Kingdom. We should be living out a peace that passes all understanding. A peace that only comes from Christ. We should be living out a life totally devoted to God. In a recent Francis Chan sermon he said that we should be obsessed, addicted to God. Are you living that way, such that people are seeing the difference between Heaven and this earth/world? Living with wisdom. Wisdom that doesn’t conform to this world. That often seems strange. Yet works for the good of those who love Him.
What a difference could be made and impact on people’s fate if we would live as citizens of His Kingdom RIGHT NOW. (quote from a YouVersion app devotional.) That’s what you want to model to your grandchildren; that’s the example you want to set for them; that’s the bigger legacy you want to leave.
Don Schin has extensive global experience in Asia with Fortune 500 companies. He speaks fluent Japanese. After stepping out of the corporate rat race 23 years ago he now owns a franchise broker and consulting company. Don is a seasoned professional speaker and writer, authoring the book, Can you Relate? sharing a map of his most successful years in business, so others can experience the same. Don is active in his community where his time is devoted to men’s groups, local churches, and non-profit boards including recent past chair of the Bethesda Mission, the largest rescue mission in Harrisburg, PA. He also served as the chaplain for an AA baseball team via Baseballchapel.org. Don enjoys spending time with his wife, Kim, of 45 years. They have two grown children and seven grandchildren.
Feature Photo by Pixels
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