Looking Up; Looking Down

In the early days of DaySpring we created a card that made a proclamation of a believer’s position in Christ. The front of the card read, “Keep looking down.” The inside of the card read, “You are seated with Christ in heavenly places!” The card was based upon Ephesians 2:6, “For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.”

The card took many believers by surprise. This saying was different from the familiar phrase “keep looking up!” The common thinking was to look at the phrase “keep looking down” as a negative statement, while the phrase “keeping looking up” was looked upon as a positive one. The truth is that both statements are positive when viewed from a proper perspective.

We are told in Hebrews 12:1-2 “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;” God does want us to keep an upward view, keeping our eyes on Jesus as we daily serve Him and follow Him with all of our hearts. It is important for us to “keep looking up.” It is our upward look that keeps hope in our hearts and Christ’s coming kingdom before us. “Looking up” means that we are not hanging our heads in discouragement and being weighed down with despair. “Looking up” keeps us moving forward, from faith to faith and glory to glory.

The following quote helps us see another important aspect of looking up. It is based upon Mark 7:34 “Looking up to heaven He sighed”…
“Too often we sigh and look within; Jesus sighed and looked without. We sigh and look down; Jesus sighed and looked up. We sigh and look to earth; Jesus sighed and looked to heaven. We sigh and look to man; Jesus sighed and looked to God.” -Stork

As important as it is for us to daily be “looking up” it is equally important for us to be daily “looking down.” Through our spiritual eyes God has allowed us to have these two distinctive views of faith. You can “keep looking up” because you are on a pilgrim’s journey here on earth; You can keep “looking down” because you are seated with Christ in heavenly places.

What does the perspective of “keep looking down” mean in your daily walk? It means that you are seated with Christ in a place of rest, in a place of triumph, in a place of power, in a place of authority, and in a place of glory. His place is your place; His victory is your victory; His life is your life. You can “keep looking down” because He has conquered the grave, because the enemy is below His feet, and because you are more than a conqueror through Him who loves you.

 

Comments

[Joy]

Great perspective... one I have never heard or pondered. Thanks brotha! Love you

[Linda]

I shared that with one of our customers yesterday when I was standing on the ladder changing a light bulb. I told her I wasn't looking down on her but that we're not to just look up but also looks down since we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. :) Those who heard it rather enjoyed it. Thanks for that perspective.