Seeking the Things Above

"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory."

A thorough exposition of this portion of Paul’s letter would be far too lengthy to deal with here, yet we can notice several items about this significant passage. Paul says that we have "died" (Col. 3:3) and been "raised up" with Christ (v. 1). In the previous chapter, Paul also explained, "Having been buried with Him [Christ] in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead" (2:12; cf. vv. 11-13). Paul’s believing readers had "died" to sin, had been "buried" with Christ in baptism, and had been "raised up" with Him to live a new life (cf. Romans 6:3-5). Now their life is "hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3). In fact, if we are true Christians, Christ is our very "life" (v. 4)! Christ is both our source of life, as well as the content of our life. Can this be said of us? Or is golf, baseball, football, fishing, television, music, the computer, dancing, shopping, eating, clothes, education, politics, sex, or entertainment your "life"? We cannot have it both ways. What will you choose?

If indeed we have been spiritually united with Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 6:17), with His death, burial, and resurrection (Col. 2:11-13), and are now "alive together with Him" through the forgiveness of our sins (2:13), we are exhorted to live in a certain way. We are to "keep seeking the things above" (3:1) and are to "set [our] mind on the things above" rather than the things on earth (v. 2). What does the world think about? Entertainment, power, possessions, money, sexual pursuits, worldly honor, food, clothes, shopping, excitement, and carnal activities.

Instead of filling our mind with such things, what are we to seek and think about? The things above! What things above? Notice a few of them: the presence of God our Father (Matt. 6:9; Rev. 21:3); the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:24); the heavenly city (Heb. 12:22); rejoicing angels (Luke 15:10); righteous ones made perfect (Heb. 12:23; Rev. 6:9); heaven (Matt. 6:10); our inheritance (1 Pet. 1:4); Paradise (Rev. 2:7); our treasure (Mark 10:21); our heavenly country (Heb. 11:13-16); the Father’s house (John 14:2); and our future dwelling places (v. 2). Do we really seek these things? Do we really determine to set our mind on them, think about them, dream and "day dream" about them, and pray for them? Are we earthly minded or heavenly minded? What about you?

Richard Hollerman