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Dear Disciple,
In Colossians 3:1 the Apostle Paul directs the Christian to make an important consideration, first about himself, then about his “vision” or “life direction.” First there is a consideration of his position. It is hard to know whether the first word of this passage should be “if” or “since.” Either would work in the Greek. The point is this: if (or since) you have been raised to new life in and with and through Christ, this is what you need to do. To be “raised with Christ” is to be reborn, made new, made alive in Christ. That is, by and through believing in Christ, the Christian has been transferred from the category of “death” to “life.” He has been “reckoned” alive by God’s decree and decision, and he has been rendered spiritually alive by the indwelling Holy Spirit. He is a new creature. Are you a new a creature in Christ? Well, if you are, then the rest of the verse tells you what to do. You are to “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Now at first glance this looks like some prescription for being super spiritual and walking around looking and gazing into the heavens with a detached distant meditative look on one’s face. The passage at first glance seems to be suite for the spiritually eccentric only, those with a detached other worldly spiritual temperament. But I assure you that that is not so. This passage is every bit as much for the apostle Peters of this world as anyone, folks who know the warp and woof of this life. This is an injunction for real life and real living. To “seek things above where Christ is, seated at God’s right hand” is all about kingship and submission. Christ is risen. He is alive. He is at seated in authority at God’s right hand right now, today, this moment. He is Lord of heaven and earth. He is the risen exalted King. To “seek things above where He is” is to look to Him and see Him as such, as King, as exalted Master, as Lord. To “seek things above, where Christ is” is to set your affection on Christ and upon those things that are important to Him. In other words, it is to render your heartfelt obedient service to Him. It is to look to the King for direction and guidance for life, and then to live accordingly. This is the life vision for the Christian, to see Christ as exalted King and to submit to Him and to His will. What are those “things above’? Well, we shall soon see, a little later in the passage, when it says, starting in verse twelve, “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, 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.” These are the things above. But to that we will get shortly. Dear disciple, what is driving your life? What is providing the basis for your life decisions? Being a Christian is about living your life before and in obedience to Jesus, the risen King. Believe in Him. And seek Him, at God’s right hand. |
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