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SEEK THE THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE Colossians 3:1-4
Colossians 3:1-4
Life is filled with distractions.
Like the character "Dug" in the movie "Up", who blurts out "SQUIRREL!" in the middle of a thought, we can find it difficult to even complete a thought before something else pops into our minds. I can't count the number of squirrels I chase each day. This world is constantly sending appealing offers via emails, TV, radio, spam calls, text messaging and any other form of communication devised. Some are for pleasure, others for profit or support for things which are "worthy and urgent" causes seeking my attention, participation, investment, comment, donation and enrollment. Once I begin opening emails, turn on the TV or listen to radio, checking text messages or answering calls, it is nothing to find that 30 minutes or an hour or more has slipped away while I spin my wheels looking at these things.
This is not a shock to anyone but it should be a cause of concern for God's children because He has called us to a different life.
The sad fact is that the time which has been lost is not only lost to our benefit spiritually, it is lost to the kingdom of God.
Jesus said,
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)
"3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." (Colossians 3:1)
Paul told the Romans that having been raised through baptism, they were raised so that "we too might walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).
In our text, Paul addresses the same "raised" people and further describes the new life that we should live. Lift your eyes above this world. Look to where Christ is. I'm not talking about some fanciful, image of Jesus sitting on the throne but what that image truly means. Christ is in control. He is reigning in all of creation, as He said in the great commission, "“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. " (Matthew 28:18-20) In the first chapter of Colossians Paul revealed, "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church." (Colossians 1:17-18) and concerning that body, which is the church, the Holy Spirit tells us "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses," (Colossians 2:13). Because we are set apart from the world through the redemption that is in Christ, Paul can write,
"2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2) It is difficult to keep our hearts focused upon things that we cannot see while the things that we can see are constantly in our faces and demanding a response. There is no easy answer as to how to manage these demands, but there is a strategy that will make our response more effective.
The strategy is for us to prioritize God's kingdom FIRST when delegating our time. Our lives are like a container with only a certain capacity. Some larger and some smaller, but all are limited. When God's things are made the first priority in our lives, we will weigh the commitment and count the cost (Luke 9:62; 14:28). The commitment is for whatever years you have in your life and the cost is the things which we will sacrifice in order to lay hold on heaven (Romans 8:18; Matthew 6:19-21).
Too often this world pulls my eyes off heaven and looks at the shiny thing here below. It's one thing to be distracted, but it's another thing to become derailed. When we stumble, let's look up, get up and get back on track. If we keep focused upon Christ it will always be worth it.
"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4 ESV)
Michael Franklin
