How should we approach “living in the world but not of the world”?

We don’t have to worry about how to live in the world without being of the world because it’s where we are. The simple answer is to be in the world but not of the world.

Paul answers that question in a simple way in Colossians 3, “Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2). You have to focus on the fact that heaven is your home. That’s where your citizenship is. Your Father is there. Your Savior is there. The redeemed and glorified saints are there. The church triumphant is there. Your inheritance is there. Your reward is there. A home being prepared for you is there.

It’s a matter of where your affections lie, which is what our Lord was talking about when He said, “Wherever your heart is, that’s where your money’s going to go” (Matt. 6:21). If your heart is in the world, that’s where your money is going to go because your treasure is going to follow your heart.

Living a heavenly life is making sure that the priority in your life is always that which is related to the eternal kingdom of Christ.

This transcript is from a live Ask Ligonier event with John MacArthur and has been lightly edited for readability. To ask Ligonier a biblical or theological question, email ask@ligonier.org or message us on Facebook or Twitter.