Young people who are getting close to graduation from high school or college are often asked what their goals in life are. What are they looking for or seeking in life? What is their mind set on? Such questions are not bad, as it is good to have some focus or goals in life. In our brief Scripture passage today from Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he gives some instructions to believers of what things we should be seeking and setting our mind on, things that should be different from the rest of the world.
As we open our passage, it should be noted that the word “if” at the beginning of the first verse would be better translated in English with the word “since”. That is because the Colossians that Paul was writing to were believers, and believers are risen with Christ. There isn’t a question whether those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus are risen with Him. In Paul’s letters he is speaking to believers, not the lost, and believers are risen with Christ.
That being said, Paul urges believers that we should set our mind on things that are where Jesus is, in His heavenly kingdom, and not be focused on earthly or worldly things. We need to strive to put heaven’s priorities into our daily practice. Paul instructed believers that we should be concentrating on things that are eternal, rather than wasting energy on what is temporal. We should have as little desire for this world as a dead person would have.
As we learn here, and in other passages of the New Testament, those who have accepted Jesus as Savior have died with Him to sin, and are risen with Him to new life. We have been united with Jesus in His death, where the penalty of our sins were paid. When Jesus rose from the dead, we too rose with Him to new life. Because of the believer's union with Jesus Christ, we have spiritually entered His death and resurrection at the moment we were saved. We are now alive in Him, spiritually resurrected with Him.
Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God, the position of honor and majesty for the exalted Son of God. Because of that, our goals, our focus, our mind and thoughts should be there as well, not dwelling here on worldly matters. Paul urges us to set our mind on things above, to look at life from God’s perspective. We shouldn’t become too attached to what is only temporary, but instead seek what God desires. Just as a compass points north, the Christian’s inner disposition should point to things of heaven.
In light of these truths, what is the focus of our thoughts and goals in life? Are they heavenly or worldly? What we think about forms the type of person we are today, and who we become tomorrow. We should focus our thoughts on things that honor the Lord (Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:8-9). This isn’t a struggle that we have to face on our own. Our Scripture says that our life is hidden with Christ in God (vs. 3). What does that mean? Just as something valuable is hid for safety, we are hid in Jesus Christ. We are eternally secure in Jesus. We are protected from all spiritual enemies, and have access to all of God’s blessings. As we allow Jesus to live within us, He can shape us into what we should be.
We may wonder how, in the midst of the many problems we face every day, we can shift our focus off of those and on to things of the Lord. Our difficult circumstances can seem to surround us, almost like a fog. However, the Lord can enable us to rise above those circumstances when we set our mind on Him, and then we will find courage and calmness. We can climb out of our misery and gloom, and have a mind full of heavenly joy. Too many Christians are living as if Jesus had not risen from the dead. They are going through life without joy or peace. The resurrection of Jesus is not just something that happened in the past. It affects us today. Claim the power of the risen Savior every day.
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