Set Your Mind on Things Above
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. – Colossians 3:1-4
In the latter part of Chapter 2, Paul had talked about Baptism being a physical sign of the reality that we share in all that Christ is, has done, and is doing. This includes sharing with Him in his death and resurrection. This means that since we have been raised with Christ, we remain joined to Him, so we are to keep our thoughts and our hearts on “what is above,” because that is where Christ is, currently sitting at the right hand of the Father.
Because we have been redeemed to live on high with Christ, our minds are a part of what has been redeemed. Pairing this with understanding that all things find their meaning and definition in Christ, the reality that this world is fleeting sets in even stronger. Many of the things that we worry, fret, and wonder about on a daily basis will be here today and gone tomorrow. The only things of lasting worth and value is Christ.
So we are called to keep our hearts set on Him, and things that are of Him. To live, not apprehensive or full of worries about daily matters, with our eyes like fog lights, focused on what is right in front of us. But rather, expectant and hopeful about the fullness of God’s Kingdom, and the return of Christ, and with that, the completion of our holiness and union with Christ. Our vision is to be like high beams, looking far ahead, and far above the road immediately before us. All of this will fade away, but Christ will remain.
But why should we live with our vision like this? Verses 3 and 4 give us the answer. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
In being joined to Jesus, we died with Him, and our life is eternally joined to Him. Eternally hidden with Him in heaven. And so, we look forward to Jesus’ return, his appearing, and with that, our appearing with Him in glory. When he returns to earth, completely glorified, our life returns, fully glorified, because He is our life. Jesus Christ is our very life! This is exactly why we are to keep our mind and our thoughts and our hearts on things above. Because it is not just our savior that is above, but it is our own life that is above! Why would we not keep our hearts on the place that our life, and purpose, and meaning dwells?
