Key Verses: Colossians 3:1-4 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things that are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you will be with Him in glory. Why is it that we have such a hard time seeking heavenly things? Why is it so hard to truly seek God, His Will, and His presence in this life? After all we all know that we are called to seek the things above just as Paul tells us in these verses of Scripture, yet we still struggle. Why is that? I believe that these verses also answer that question. When one studies these verses closely one will see that Paul doesn’t just tell us to seek the things in heaven, he actually tells us why we should. He actually gives us three reasons. The first reason we should seek heavenly things such as God’s presence, God’s Will, and His character for our lives is because we are actually dead. When we place our faith in Jesus, we become dead to this body of sin. This means that our life is no longer confined to the lusts of the flesh and the desires of this life. We are actually dead to this life. We died with Christ. One of the reasons so many of us struggle to focus on the things of heaven is because we don’t understand that we are dead to sin and it’s desires. But we aren’t just dead to sin, Paul continues by telling us that our life is hidden with Christ in God. What does this mean? This means that are life is safely secured with Jesus, and that life is an eternal life. The life we live here is temporary. We all grow old, our bodies get worn out, and we eventually die. This also means that the pleasures of this world and this life are temporary. So the life that we should prioritize is not the life down here that is temporary, and that we are dead too. It’s our life that Christ has waiting for us in heaven, and friend, one day that life will be a reality. That is how Paul ends this section. He reminds us that Christ who is our life, when He appears we will experience the heavenly eternal life that awaits us. Friends, these are the reasons we should focus on the heavenly things. This is why every day we have to fight for the holiness of God in our life. Because we are dead to this life, our eternal life is safely secured in the person of Jesus, and one day He will give it to us. So today, I want to challenge you to seek the heavenly things. Stop pursuing fleshly desires that are temporary and that only bring temporary satisfaction. Start prioritizing the heavenly, eternal life we have in Jesus Christ! Pray: Dear God, would you help me prioritize the eternal life that Jesus has won for me? Help me value it more than this temporary life on this temporary planet. I know that when I truly value my eternal life, I will seek Your presence more, Your Will more, and I will seek to conform my life to Your character. In Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN.
