God expects the best out of us as His servants, and we must do all we can to give Him the very best. I must continue to grow and be challenged in all that I strive to do if I will give Him the very best. I want and desire to be a better Christian, a better husband, a better father, a better preacher and a better son. I must keep my eyes, ears and heart focused on the higher ground.

So many live lives of futile existence, thinking this is all there is to life. Yet, God calls us to something more. We have a higher mission, in that we fight against spiritual wickedness. We have a higher vision, of heaven itself, wherein dwells righteousness and God. We also have:

A HIGHER GOAL—Philippians 3:13–15 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. (NKJV) Paul considers it a prize to keep striving for the upward call. We that are mature have this mind, and we press on constantly for the goal. What is the higher call? Many believe this is heaven, and it may fit this context. However, we know that we are called by the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14), and one aspect of the gospel is living lives worthy of the gospel. Paul talks about walking worthy of the gospel wherewith we are called (Ephesians 4:1). So it may be that he is talking about living our lives worthy of the gospel on a day by day basis and being able to reach the prize. It is not enough to talk the talk, we must walk the walk as well.

HIGHER THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS—Isaiah 55:9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (NKJV) Being a Christian means that we are becoming more and more like our Savior, Jesus. We allow His mind to be our mind (Philippians 2:5–11) and we imitate Him daily (1 Corinthians 11:1). Hence, we cannot allow the thoughts of this world to preoccupy our minds and hearts. We must strive for higher thoughts and actions—we must strive to be like our Lord and to think and act like our Lord. Truly, as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:5, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (NKJV). That is a high calling, for sure!

HIGHER GROUND—Exodus 3:5–6 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” 6 Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. (NKJV). Moses was in the presence of God on Mount Sinai, before he led the children of Israel out of Egypt. What made Mount Sinai holy? God was there! Jesus tells us in John 14:1–4 that we will be in the presence of Him and His Father when He comes again. In Revelation, John talks about being with God, praising Him throughout eternity! Are you striving, with all of your heart, mind, soul and spirit, to be on higher ground?