Colossians 3:1-4 "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with
Him in glory."
A quick look at our passage this morning and you will see that it
starts with a condition statement, "IF", for these instructions are
not for everybody, but only those who "be risen with Christ." We who have died in Christ, for He is our representative, have also risen in Christ and should likewise live in Him. Since we are dead and buried in Christ we likewise should be dead to sin.
If the answer to the condition statement is positive, then our desire should be to "seek those things which are above." The word 'seek' means to pursue after, to aim for. Why? Because that's "where Christ is sitting on the right hand of God." If we are in Christ it is only logical that we would want to be where He is, in heaven.
Paul continues in this direction by saying in the next verse, "Set
your mind (affection) on things above, not on things of the earth."
The word set speaks of a conscious effort on our part that our mind or affections which speaks of our desire, our fondness, our heart set are placed on heavenly things. You know a fish's living environment is the water, no matter where you put him, he still desires the water. A lion or a tiger's best habitat is the jungle or the plains and even though we may put them in the zoo, they are best suited and desire the jungle environment.
Well...as Christians our desires should be the things of God, which
are above. No matter where we are placed we should still have
heavenly desires and not become entangled with the things of the
world.
Gal 2:20 says, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet
not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the
flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave
Himself for me."
We can praise God this morning that we have died in Christ, were
buried in Christ, rose in Christ, and now we shall live in Christ.
Not because of us, but because of God who has chosen us in Him in eternity past that we should be apart of the family of God in eternity future.
Where are your desires, your affections are they for things above
(heavenly) or for things below (earthly)? If they are for the things
of God we must keep our focus on God through prayer and meditation on the Word of God. The picture of Peter walking on the water is a picture of us in life., as long as we keep our focus, our eye on Christ we will not sink in the mess of world!
Finally, verse 4 of our passage says, "When Christ who is our life
appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." If we live in
Him, we shall be glorified in Him!
Have a Blessed Day...Be PRAYERFUL and THANKFUL for all things!!!
Edward Price