Grace in Galatians (Part 77): Breaking the Doctrine of Escapism (Wanting To Escape The Earth)
Today, we continue our series entitled “Living the Grace Life,” where we will learn to embrace and walk in God’s unmerited, unearned, and often undeserved favor throughout 2025.
As part of this series, I am teaching a verse-by-verse exposition of the book of Galatians.
Key scriptures for this year:
(2 Corinthians 9:8 TPT)
"Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything—every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do."
(Galatians 5:4 TPT)
"If you want to be made right with God by fulfilling the obligations of the law, you have cut off more than your flesh—you have cut yourselves off from Christ and have fallen away from the revelation of grace!"
(Romans 6:14 ERV)
"Sin will not be your master, because you are not under law. You now live under God's grace."
(1 Corinthians 15:10 CEV)
"But God treated me with undeserved grace! He made me what I am, and his grace wasn't wasted. I worked much harder than any of the other apostles, although it was really God's grace at work and not me."
Scripture we will study today:
(Luke 19:13 KJV)
“And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.”
(John 10:10 TPT)
“A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!”
(Matthew 6:19-21 NIV)
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
(Colossians 3:2 NIV)
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
Setting the Stage:
Yesterday, we exposed the uncomfortable truth that Christians (despite being Abraham’s heirs) have far less economic influence than the Jewish community. We discovered it’s not an inheritance problem but an identity crisis. Today, I want to dig deeper into one of the non-Biblical lines of thought that has robbed Christians of their earthly influence: the doctrine of escapism.
This doctrine taught people to look to Heaven for their reward, never expecting to prosper on Earth. It created a theology of endurance instead of dominance, survival instead of success, and escape instead of establishment. Songs like “This world is not my home, I’m just passing through” and “I’ll fly away, oh glory” reinforced a mindset that says, “Don’t build here, don’t invest here, don’t expect to thrive here; just hold on until Jesus comes back!”
I believe this thought process is part of the lingering effects of slavery. For hundreds of years, slaves could not own anything, so this thought process was understandable. But it should not be our thought process today. Jesus didn’t say “Escape or endure till I come.” He said, “OCCUPY till I come!” The Greek word for occupy” in this passage (pragmateuomai), means to carry on business, to trade, to be engaged in enterprise. Jesus was literally saying, “Do business until I return!” Yet somehow, we’ve turned His command to occupy into a plea to escape!
So, what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. Escapism Is a Theology Born from Oppression, Not Scripture.
The doctrine of escapism didn’t come from the Bible; it came from difficult circumstances that people spiritualized to cope with their pain. During slavery, colonization, and severe persecution, Christians developed a theology that helped them endure suffering by focusing entirely on the afterlife. But coping mechanisms aren’t supposed to become core doctrines!
How this applies to you:
— Slaves sang “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” because earthly freedom seemed impossible! The spirituals were beautiful expressions of hope in hopeless situations. But when you’re FREE, your mindset should be different. Your theology should match your liberty, not your history!
— The doctrine of escapism was actually beneficial to oppressors! Think about it: If you can convince people that their reward is only in Heaven, they won’t fight for justice on Earth. Religious oppression kept people passive while their oppressors prospered!
— Many Christians inherited a survival theology when they should be operating in success theology! Your great-grandparents may have needed to “just make it through,” but you have opportunities they never had. Stop using their limitations as your expectations!
— Escapist theology contradicts the very nature of the Gospel! The Gospel is “good news,” not just for when you die, but for how you live! Jesus came to give you an abundant life NOW, not just eternal life LATER!
— When persecution ended, the theology didn’t! Many Christians in free nations still operate with a persecution mindset. They are planning an escape when God calls us to plan an expansion!
— The same Bible that promises Heaven also promises earthly blessing! Psalm 115:16 says, “The heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to mankind.” God gave you the Earth as your domain. Why are you trying to escape your assignment?
2. Jesus Commanded Occupation, Not Evacuation.
In Luke 19:13, Jesus tells a parable about a nobleman who gives his servants money and says, “Occupy till I come.” This wasn’t a suggestion; it was a command! The word “occupy” means to carry on business, to trade, to gain by trading. Jesus expects returns on His investment in you! The NIV of Luke 19:13 reads, “So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.'”
How this applies to you:
— God has invested gifts, talents, and resources in you, expecting a return! The parable of the talents makes this clear: the servants who multiplied what they were given were rewarded; the one who just managed it and did not increase it was called wicked, and he was punished. What did the man do with the talent (the money)? He buried it. Escapism buries potential while occupation multiplies it!
— “Occupy” means to take territory and establish dominance! When an army occupies a region, as the occupying force, they don’t hide in bunkers. They establish control, set up infrastructure, and exercise authority. You’re called to occupy the Earth with Kingdom authority!
— You’re not a refugee on Earth; you’re an ambassador! 2 Corinthians 5:20 says we are Christ’s ambassadors. Ambassadors don’t escape from their assigned nations; they represent their kingdom’s interests there. Stop acting like you don’t belong here when God specifically assigned you here!
— Every sphere of society should have Kingdom influence! The seven mountains of culture (religion, family, education, government, media, arts and entertainment, and business) should all have Christians at the top influencing policy and culture. But you can’t influence from the top if you’re trying to escape from the bottom! To tie this to yesterday’s message. While you won’t find many Christians at the top of these mountains of influence, you will find many Jews! There is a message there.
— Jesus prayed, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!” He didn’t pray, “Get us out of here!” He prayed for Heaven to invade Earth! Your job is to make Earth look more like Heaven, not to escape Earth for Heaven!
3. The “Treasure in Heaven” Verses Have Been Weaponized Against Earthly Success.
Religious people have taken verses about eternal priorities and twisted them to mean God is against earthly success. When Jesus said “Store up treasures in heaven,” He wasn’t saying “Don’t prosper on earth.” He was saying, “Don’t lose sight of your heavenly treasure!”
How this applies to you:
— Having treasure in Heaven doesn’t require poverty on Earth! Abraham had both! David had both! Solomon had both! Job had both, lost it all, and then got it back double! God is not asking you to choose between earthly and heavenly blessing; He offers both!
— “Set your mind on things above” doesn’t mean ignore things below! Colossians 3:2 is about priorities, not poverty! You can have your mind on Heaven while your hands build on Earth. Spiritual focus doesn’t require financial failure!
— The rich young ruler’s problem wasn’t his wealth; it was his worship! Jesus didn’t tell every rich person to sell everything. He told that specific man because his money was his god. The issue isn’t having money; it’s money having you!
— Some people are so against materialistic greed that they have made poverty a symbol of honor. When you take pride in your lack, boast about your struggle, and judge those who prosper, you’ve made poverty your idol!
— Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first the kingdom of God…and all these things will be added to you!” Notice He didn’t say “all these things will be removed from you!” When you get the priority right, the provision follows!
4. The Escapism Mindset Creates Christians Who Build Nothing.
Here’s the devastating result of escapist theology: Christians have largely abandoned their mandate to build, create, and establish. While waiting for the rapture, we’ve surrendered the culture. While singing about flying away, we’ve let others shape society. We’ve become so focused on leaving that we’ve stopped leading!
How this applies to you:
— Christians should be starting companies, buying land, leading organizations, and influencing culture. We serve the Creator, yet we’ve become merely consumers.
— Proverbs 13:22 isn’t a suggestion; it’s a standard! It commands us to leave an inheritance for our children’s children. But escapist theology says there’s nothing to leave because Jesus is coming!
— While Christians are waiting for the rapture, others are building the future! Tech companies, media empires, and educational institutions are all being built by people who don’t even acknowledge Jesus! We’ve surrendered influence while waiting for an exit!
— The Great Commission says “make disciples of all nations,” not “survive until the evacuation!” Nations are shaped by influence, and influence requires positions, resources, and platforms!
— Escapism has made Christians reactive instead of proactive! We’re always responding to what the world does instead of setting the agenda. It’s time to stop playing defense and start playing offense!
I will close with this scripture: “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12 KJV). The Kingdom of God is supposed to ADVANCE, and we are the ones with the mandate to push it forward. You can’t influence the Earth if all you want to do is escape it. If today’s message convicted you, it’s time to change your mindset.
That’s enough for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I reject the doctrine of escapism and embrace my mandate to occupy!
I will not just survive until Heaven; I will thrive on Earth!
I am not a refugee here; I am an ambassador with authority!
I will build, create, and establish Kingdom influence in every sphere!
My treasure in Heaven doesn’t require poverty on Earth!
I will think generationally, build intentionally, and prosper purposefully!
My success on Earth will fund Kingdom advancement!
I am Living #TheGraceLife and GREATER IS COMING FOR ME!
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
Comments