Yesterday, the message of "seeking things above" was presented. The next verse in Colossians 3 mimics that same idea. This is what it says:
"Set your minds on the things that are above, not the things that are on earth." (Col. 3:2)
In order to seek what is above, we must take a critical first step. We will have to reprogram our minds and the way we think about these "things". We must train our minds to be set on the things of God, rather than on the things of this world. The flesh looks around our world to see what it is that we desire for ourselves. But faith looks up; it desires the things that God desires.
My problem with living out this particular Scripture passage is this: I know I should seek the things of God and set my mind on them. I say that I should seek them. And I often teach others, as well, their need to look up and to seek after the eternal things (even as I am teaching you right now). But to actually put this into practice in my day-to-day, even moment-to-moment life, well let's just say I typically fail, and fail miserably in practicing this.
It is true that there must be a shift of focus (Col. 3:1), but before there can be a true shift, there must be a firm and decisive choice, to choose God over the lust of the eyes, flesh, and world. For us to change our focus from looking around us to looking above to God, we must begin to practice a "line in the sand" type of theology, making a right decision, choice by choice. The line in the sand can be called the "choice line." On one side of the choice line is what is of this world; and on the other side is what is of the Spirit. This is the scenario for every choice we will make. There are no other choices.
So if we will set our minds on what is of the Spirit, first and foremost, then we will have a greater ability, and even a greater desire, to begin to seek what is above. Revival comes to a heart and life that is determined to be set on the God-things that it seeks, attempting to keep our mind from returning to a place where it seeks the world's things again. The God-things will never be found on earth. They can only be found where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. That is the place of the "above". Faithful followers of Christ will learn to walk through life looking up!
Are you looking up, or are you looking around you? Above or on earth?
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