"If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth." - Colossians 3:1-2
Have you ever wondered just where you are with Jesus Christ? I mean REALLY- where are you in His sight? Can you really know? Is it possible for you to know all the time, and - to always know? Some of us could possibly say, using human reason, that it is a blessing not knowing. Most of us want to know what Jesus thinks of how we are doing with our lives, but again - we don’t. Knowing brings certain accountability.
Do you really want to know?
It has always been intriguing and somewhat amusing to realize just how little we as humans tend to look up. Just UP. We could know so much more by looking up more. It seems that there must be something EXTREMELY compelling to provoke us to look up, such as a possible UFO. We are constantly looking down. Down at the earth. Down at our feet. We are constantly being told or compelled to look this way or that direction to catch this or miss that. It seems that there is a compulsive necessity to look down and at the ground and the around in the process of living. It is wise and expedient. And many remember the advice, "its the economy, stupid...". At least those who dwell and travel on land consider not looking up to be wise.
However, ask a mariner about the habit of looking down and only at the around. On the high seas, in the middle of an ocean, the ancient mariners learned they must look up - they had to look up in order to find their way. Looking down at times were necessary to ponder their footing. But the only way to know where they really were was to look up at the sun, or moon and the stars and constellations. There is no question we are living in a time of rough seas amidst powerful waves and currents. A leader in a large church was overheard to say upon hearing some distressing news concerning the condition of the church, "someone has to do something!" It is expedient to go with the flow, and it seems more necessary to look down at the deck of our ship, or trim the sails more, or maybe even through something (or someone) overboard (Jonah 1:12-15). There is only one safe haven. It is not under our feet, or around us, or over our shoulder somewhere.
It is above.
ABOVE is where the solutions are. Sometimes in the midst of all our distresses - whatever they may be - the answer seems so far away. And they are. They are because we are searching and looking in the WRONG DIRECTION. We understand that if we go far enough in any direction we will eventually meet ourselves coming back - we find we have been going in circles. If we are constantly darting in different directions, we are going nowhere.. So by analogy, there truly is no way but up! So many troubles, so many problems, so many dead ends could be solved, and so many heartaches be relieved by setting our minds and keeping them set on "things above". Why? - because we are dead. And dead people are rather ineffective at solving problems, and especially at saving their lives. Notice: "For as far as this world is concerned, you have died, and your new, real life is hidden with Christ, in God" (Colossians 3:3). It would be difficult to overstate the richness of this verse. The impact is so astounding that our minds (which should be "set" to receive it) resist its impact! Above is where the Christ’s throne of grace is, not DOWN here on the earth. For the present time, Christ considers us temporarily to be "prisoners" of earth (Lamentations 3:31-34). Although there are those who are trying desperately to "conquer" space for mankind, much more could be accomplished by allowing themselves to be conquered by the One who made what they are trying to conquer. Our lives are now hid above with Jesus. There is the throne room command center from where the universe is sustained and set in motion. Would it not be a small thing to take care of our needs while we are prisoners in the earth? We are prisoners of the earthy, but we are the Lords free ones! (1 Corinthians 7:22). Keep your mind set on the things of the true reality, the things above. If you do this, notice the outcome: "When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory" (Colossians 3:4).
By keeping our minds set on these things, not the things of our earthy existence will fall into proper order and importance. Our priorities will change. Then WE will begin to change: "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:5-17)
When certain events begin to occur, we as Christians are then also commanded to "look up" for our salvation is near (Luke 21:25-28). The "Above" will come and release the prisoners in the earth. These are the things "above". Are you looking in the right direction?
Is your mind there?
If it is, you will know where you stand with Jesus...I pray that your mind and His become one. Amen!
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ...practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."- Philippians 4:8-9