No Earthly Good

I’ve heard this phrase used about church people – “They’re so heavenly bound that they’re no earthly good.” The sentiment, of course, is that Christians get so focused on their eternal reward that the here and now doesn’t matter. The trouble is that bills still have to be paid, children have to be fed, the boss’s email has to be answered, and the customer has to be served. In this world, heaven will just have to wait.

Some followers of Jesus were present with him after his resurrection. He was asked, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?”

His answer was, “That’s on a need to know basis, and you don’t need to know.” At least that’s the Gary paraphrased version. Then he ascended to heaven, and we can infer that the disciples were standing there gawking and looking toward heaven. Two angels appeared and said, “Why do you stand looking toward heaven?”

It was just like when your mother said, “Why are you just standing there looking at that mess?” What she really means is, “Get to work!” What the angels essentially said was, “Get to business doing what Jesus told you.”

Or, don’t be so heavenly focused that you’re no earthly good.

Jesus left the church to do the work of God, and if we waste our time watching the horizon for his return, we’re going to miss the bigger picture. We – the church – are truly the body of Christ and are to be busy being Jesus to others. Let’s consider how we Christians can shirk our reputation of being “no earthly good.”

Eyes to earth, and heart to heaven,

Pastor Gary Long, Gaithersburg, MD



Long Story, Short is a column I write on Friday to get you thinking about church on Sunday. You can read more of my writing at my blog Life to the Lees.

Acts 1:1-11

1:1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning

1:2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

1:3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

1:4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me;

1:5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

1:6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?"

1:7 He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.

1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

1:9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

1:10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.

1:11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."