The Thursday Update

NOVEMBER 6, 2025

Lakeshore Friends,

For many years, I have shared my thoughts on a saying that has been around for a long time. The saying goes like this: “You’re so heavenly minded that you’re no earthly good.” The thinking is that if you think too much about heaven that you will not be thinking about how you live and impact others during your life on earth.

I have found the exact opposite to be true. I say that for a couple of reasons.

First, there is a biblical reason. Colossians 3:1-3 says: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” The Apostle Paul, inspired by God, could not be more clear in calling us to set our hearts (that is, the seat of our emotions) and set our minds (that is, how we think and what we think about) on the things above, namely heaven and God. The word for “set” in Greek has the idea of aspiration, desire and passion. It also has the idea of being engrossed by them. We are clearly supposed to be very heavenly minded, thinking about the reality of heaven and the God who reigns there.

Second, there is a practical reason. It’s when we are the most heavenly minded that we are the most earthly good because that requires us to focus on eternity. And the more we focus on eternity, the more we are gripped with the reality of it for both our lives and the lives of others. And the more we are coming to terms with the reality and glory of heaven, we will also come to terms with the reality and agony of hell. And the more that happens, the more we will have the conviction and desire to tell others about the love of God found through faith in Jesus Christ. The more real they are to our way of thinking, the more we sense and urgency to share Christ with others in our family and our friends. That sounds like we will actually be the most earthly good, doesn’t it? Conversely, when you are not very heavenly minded, you don’t think this way. Heaven becomes a vague notion and so does hell. And there goes the urgency with it.

Sadly, too many people are not as heavenly minded as they should be. That’s why we are teaching this current series on heaven, hell and everything in between. We want to hear what God has to say about them so that we can be prepared for that day when we die and are judged, and so that we are the most earthly good for others who need Jesus.

While we talked about heaven last Sunday, we’ll talk about hell this Sunday. It’s not a popular topic in churches these days except for an occasional reference to it… maybe an occasional reference. But while many churches avoid this subject for fear that people will get upset and offended by it, we’ll see why God sees it very differently. Afterall, it is a real place and Jesus tells us more about hell than He does about heaven. There’s a reason for that.

I hope you’ll be more heavenly minded than ever.

If you are, I’ll see you on Sunday! 😊

Warmly,

Vince
Senior Pastor