On Things Above

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 1:2)

Yesterday, we started talking about how to aim your life in the direction of the Lord’s best. We discussed the importance of looking up at the risen Lord. Today, let’s continue this conversation.

The next thing we can do to make sure our aim is in alignment with Christ is to look up at a reigning Lord. When life is raining on your parade, Jesus is reigning over your parade. Jesus reigns over disease whether it is Covid-19 or cancer. Jesus reigns over disaster whether it is a shattered economy or a lost child. Jesus reigns over death no matter how, when, or where you die. The world spins on its axis 24/7, but it never spins out of control. That is why Jesus goes on to say, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 1:2).

He says, “Set your affection on Jesus, on things heavenly, not things earthly.” Then he says, “Put your attention on Jesus on things heavenly not things earthly.” Where you put your affection and where you place your attention is going to determine how you live. Our feet may be on earth, but our mind should be in heaven.

Finally, in addition to looking up to a risen Lord and a reigning Lord, we should be looking up for a returning Lord. Paul concluded by saying this, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). The best way to live in this world is to stay above this world.

What Paul has said so far is this: When you remember you don’t belong to this world you will know how to behave in this world. The real life is not the life people can see; it is the life people can’t see. That is why unbelievers don’t understand believers, because the life that we have within us, the power that we have within us, the person that we have within us, the presence we have within us is hidden with Christ in God.

Then, Paul closes with a bang, “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4). Listen to those five words, “Christ who is your life.” Jesus is not just the source of our life. Jesus is not just the support of our life. Jesus is not just the supply of our life. Jesus is not just the strength of our life. Jesus is our life!

Dear Lord, I want nothing more than to be in alignment with you. So I’m asking for your help. Give me the wisdom to do what Paul encourages us to do in today’s key passage and help me to set my mind on things above rather than earthly things. Give me eyes to see things the way you see them so that I can live my life with a focus on eternity. In Jesus’ name, amen.