Colossians 3:1-4 // Be Where You Belong
Colossians 3:1-4 // Be Where You Belong
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Col. 3:1-4
Paul gives us two commands here: the first is to "seek the things that are above" and the second is to "set your minds on things that are above." They sound similar but there's a subtle difference. The first has to do with our morals, desires, values, and longings—matters of the heart. The second has to do with our concentration and thinking—matters of the mind. In short Paul is saying, "long for the things of Christ and actively focus your mind there."
Why do we have this call on our lives? Because having been raised with Christ, we have a new life source and a future good in Him. After all, He "is your life" and you "will appear with him in glory" as it says in verse 4. This makes Christians incredibly distinct from the world. We are dead to the things of the world; it's passions and desires and values and longings and ways of thinking—and we are alive to Christ, seeking the things above, where He is.
So, if you feel a little awkward in the world at times, this is why. If you feel a little out of touch at times, this is why. Make peace with that feeling because it's rooted in reality. Feel the freedom and joy to be where you belong, seeking and setting your mind on the things above.
A.W. Tozer encourages all of us in his book, The Crucified Life: How to Live Out a Deeper Christian Experience, he writes:
"In a manner of speaking, we belong up there. Our culture belongs up there. Our thinking belongs up there. Everything belongs up there. Of course, when you are down here, people recognize you and say, “Well, that fellow belongs in heaven.” I know a lot of people that belong in heaven. I suppose one of the ugliest things in all of the world is a goose walking around on the earth. But one of the most graceful sights in the skies is a wild goose with its wings spread on its way south or north. I suppose we act awkward here because we belong up there. Those of you who work in big offices surrounded by people who are not Christians cannot easily fit into the conversation when break time comes. You act awkwardly, and you are worried and ashamed and wonder why. It is because you belong to God. You have another spirit; you know another language, and you speak this world’s language with an accent. When others mention religion, they talk about it with an accent. They belong to the earth; you belong to God in the skies and, of course, they do not agree. They think you walk awkwardly down here, but they have not seen you with your wings spread yet. Wait until the time comes when the children of God spread their wings and soar away to meet Him in glory. Then they will see how graceful they are. While on earth, of course, they do not think we are." - A.W. Tozer, The Crucified Life: How to Live Out a Deeper Christian Experience
Praying our accents be ever thicker in this world as we wait to "soar away to meet Him in glory." That's where we belong anyway, having been raised with Christ.
In Christ,
Pastor Kevin