By Sandy Howard

By Sandy Howard

No Heavenly Good

By Sandy Howard

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Has anyone ever said to you: “You are so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good?”

I have read this clever little line before, but hadn’t had it directed at me personally until just recently.  I thought it was ridiculous the first time I ever saw it in print, because it is impossible and doesn’t even make any sense. Because, if we are truly heavenly minded, that is, with our minds focused on heaven and its rewards, we will not be able to help ourselves from being earthly good.

That is not earthly good in the sense of our personal “goodness,” but in the sense that if we are focused on our Heavenly Home, we cannot help having a desire to have as many as possible go there with us.

I have said this before, but this world is not my home. I do not belong here. My heart, my mind and every fiber of my being longs to be Home.  It is only human nature for us to want to go home. So, even if we are in another place that is comfortable, enjoyable and even extravagant, we are still creatures who prefer home over every other place. 

Ever since a few years back, when I became interested (okay, obsessed would probably be the word people who know me would use) in Bible prophecy, I have become keenly aware of how close we are to the end of this world as we know it. Don’t misunderstand; I do love the amazing beauty in this world. I especially love the woods, hills, creeks, trees and beautiful bluffs of the Ozarks where I live. This earthly home has some spectacular, wondrous and amazing features. 

However, for those appointed to be watchmen on the wall, we cannot help ourselves. We can no more stop ourselves from watching the signs all around us and warning others than anyone else can stop themselves from drawing in air to breathe. So any attempts to get us to stop being heavenly minded are futile, pointless and impossible for me to understand.  Since we know that the Bible is almost one third prophecy, doesn’t it stand to reason that God wants us to study it and know it and tell others about it? And, isn’t the Master’s desire that we watch?

^“And you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.  And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants” (Luke12:36-38).

Imagine!  The Master being so delighted when He comes and finds us watching that He would wrap an apron towel around his waist and serve us dinner! 

So, after all, how does anyone know that I am “so heavenly minded” as to make such a statement?  Is it because I am talking about going Home all the time?  And is it because I am keeping watch, as a watchman on the wall, and trying to warn as many as I can that we all need to prepare ourselves to be ready? And one more thing, how would a watchman on the wall know what to watch for if he or she were not aware of prophecy?

As I said to someone recently, Jesus is coming very soon.  And even if I am wrong about the “very soon” part, considering some of our ages and what with all the disasters and potential threats we live with daily, it stands to reason that one day soon, one way or the other, we will meet Jesus face to face.  As Dr. Robert Jeffress says, “Soon, either He is coming or we are going.” 

So, I ask you, if telling others about heaven and how wonderful it will be and warning others to get ready to meet Jesus is “no earthly good,” pray tell, what is “earthly good?”  Define that for me please. 

Meanwhile, I have a question for you too:  “Are you so “earthly” minded that you are no heavenly good?”

Is this earth your home? Are you striving for fame or fortune or power or prestige on this earth?  Do you think about your eternal home?

As I see it, the Bible is clear on my responsibility in these last days:   

“Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head.

He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand’” (Ezekiel 33:1-6).

And then there is this:

“Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me finds life,
and obtains favor from the Lord” (Proverbs 8:33-35)

And this:

“He who scatters has come up before your face. Man the fort! Watch the road! Strengthen your flanks! Fortify your power mightily” (Nahum 2:1-3).

And finally, this:

“I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected” (Habakkuk 2:1).

So I will keep on watching and warning, and longing for Home because:

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.

It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.

Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.

And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:32-37).

Please get ready, it’s almost time to go Home.

All emboldened Scripture is added by the author for emphasis.

skhoward8@hotmail.com