FUNERAL 2

A Heavenly Perspective

I was told that the book of Philippians was the favorite Bible Book of Peggy. So I would like for the next few minutes for us to look at two verses from Philippians 3:20-21 that will help us to have a heavenly perspective just like our sister Peggy.

Philippians 3:20–21 NASB95

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

You see Paul is reminding us that we are to be spiritually minded - to look at earth from a heavenly perspective. Colossians 3:2“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” We have to occupy our minds with the things above

The first way to have a heavenly perspective is to focus on a...

Focuses on a Heavenly Place

Our citizenship is in heaven (3:20) We are aliens, strangers, exiles, pilgrims on the earth. Peggy citizenship is in heaven. She is no longer a pilgrim, alien, or exile; she is where she was always meant to be, with her God forever.

Hebrews 11:13–16 “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 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 prepared a city for them.”

Peggy is in a better country, a heavenly,one, one that was prepared for her. She has lived a long life of faithfulness and service to her Lord.

Her heavenly perspective was always leading her to this heavenly place.

Where is our citizenship, is it here on this earth or in heaven?

Looks to a Heavenly Person

They eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (3:20). They are eager for Christ to return so that they can be with him for eternity. Paul was looking forward to the last day so that he could know Jesus Christ fully Philippians 3:10–11 “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

You see we may well look forward to many things like : deliverance from sin and temptation; meeting the great ones of old; reunion with loved ones; glory of the heavenly places. All pale in comparison to being with our Lord and Savior.

Our yearning for the Lord is what keeps us walking in the light. It is what keeps us faithful. It helps us to endure the hard times of life.

A Christian is always waiting for eagerly for our Savior - to come and deliver us from this sinful fallen world, to vindicate us, and to take us to be with Him for eternity

Peggy no longer has to wait eagerly for her Savior because she is with Christ which is far better than being here on this earth with us. When Jesus comes back Peggy is coming with Jesus, she is first in line if you will (1 Thess. 4:14-15)

Look Forward To A Heavenly Physique

Paul would talk about the earthly body decaying (2 Cor. 4:16) and if anybody understood that fact, it was Peggy. Constant pain new problems at every turn. She understood that our earthly bodies are subject to decline, disease, disfigurement, death, and decay. One scholar described our bodies as locked by limitations, fettered by frailty, pursued by pain, and doomed to die.

friends Peggy has a new body today. Her body has been transformed (v. 21) into the body of His glory. There are a lot of questions I have about this and a lot things I do not understand about this new body. But one thing I do know is Peggy's body is now like her Saviors in some way. transformed in to conformity with the body of His glory. 1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” It is a glorious body. no pain and no decay.

let that sink in for a moment. We will be like our Savior, doesn’t that just warm you where need to warmed.

Peggy while here on earth Focused on a Heavenly Place, Looked to a Heavenly Person, and looked forward to a Heavenly Physique but today Miss Peggy is not focused on or looking to, or looking forward to any of those things… she is experiencing it first hand she is with her Savior Jesus Christ in a new body, in a perfect place. So even though we will miss her and are saddened by her absence from our lives, we can also rejoice today because she has finished the race, she has recieved her prize and is in the presence of God for all eternity and we can find comfort in that.

I believe Miss Peggy would want me to ask all of us here this morning an important question. Do you have a heavenly perspective or an earthly perspective? Are you focused on a Heavenly Place, looking to a Heavenly Person, and looking forward to a Heavenly Physique? If not then why not begin that journey today by 1. believing in Jesus Christ John 8:24 ““Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”” 2. repent Luke 13:3 ““I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” 3. confess Matthew 10:32–33 ““Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” 4. baptized John 3:5 “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38) and 5. live the heavenly perspective so that one day we can all be together with our Savior.