Real Estate! (part 2 of 2)

As our goals are set in life, we must continually be careful with where our focus rests. What is it we most desire and are working to gain? Do we desire to enlarge our borders and increase our investment portfolios? It is the off centered focus which causes some to tear down their barns to build bigger ones ( Luke 12:18), thinking they have arrived or that it is in the possession of worldly goods they have a secure future.

Israel left Egypt to head toward a land of great blessing. ( Deuteronomy 6:10-11; Joshua 24:13) It was an inheritance they looked forward to. When they got there, had they truly arrived? Though the blessings were substantial, was it all God really had in mind for them? Or was their focus limited to only the physical aspects of life? Perhaps if Israel had kept the focus on their spiritual relationship with God, even the physical blessings would have lasted longer.

Due to a focus which centered too much on worldly perspectives, when the long awaited Messiah -- Jesus Christ -- came onto life's scene, He was rejected. Had the rulers of that age truly understood, "they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." ( 1 Corinthians 2:8) The concern of many of the leaders was revealed in a statement made in view of Jesus' growing popularity following his raising of Lazarus from the dead.

We read. . .
"(47) So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, 'What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. (48) If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and THE ROMANS WILL COME AND TAKE AWAY BOTH OUR PLACE AND OUR NATION.'" ( John 11:47-48 ESV)

Oh, if their focus had only been on the TRUE KINGDOM Jesus came to establish and the REAL estate He desired to provide. Even today a struggle continues for worldly real estate in that region of the world. The REALITY is the borders of our LORD'S KINGDOM encompass Heaven and earth as both realms are united in Him. ( Ephesians 1:10)

Encouraging Christians with a Jewish background as they were going through severe persecution, the Hebrew writer encouraged that the PROMISE OF A REST REMAINED. ( Hebrews 4:1 & 8-9) Later in listing many heroes of faith, the writer of Hebrews noted that Abraham's focus -- while living in the land promised to his offspring -- was on a "city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God." ( Hebrews 11:10)

Abraham's focus and that of others was "that they were strangers and exiles on earth." ( Hebrews 11:13) Earth was not their homeland. ( Hebrews 11:14) Their focus was described as being centered as follows:

"But as it is, THEY DESIRE A BETTER COUNTRY, that is, A HEAVENLY ONE. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, FOR HE HAS PREAPARED FOR THEM A CITY." ( Hebrews 11:16)

Jesus assured His disciples that in His Father's house were many mansions and He was going there to prepare a place for them. ( John 14:2-3) Any real estate here is only temporary. May we "strive to enter that rest" ( Hebrews 4:11) that is yet to come. Focusing on "A BETTER COUNTRY" that in essence is "A HEAVENLY ONE" and acknowledging the eternal place our Lord has gone to prepare for us; that is REAL estate planning that provides the security on which we can truly count.

Have a great day FOCUSED TOWARD THE REAL ESTATE THAT IS REAL!
Carl

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