Colossians 3:1-11

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your^[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. ⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. ⁷ You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”

• Position determines what we Pursue

Paul says to “Set your sights” he is talking here about what we pursue, what we seek. This is about what our heart seeks and a need for a change in desires. Instead of pursuing results Paul says purse a relationship with Jesus. The focus isn’t on the place of heaven but on the person in heaven. Paul is not calling us to love and meditate on the things in heaven, but rather on the King in heaven, the qualities that characterize the life and rule of Christ.  If you want to hit the target you have to focus on what your shooting for. ILLUSTRATION if we focus on something right in front of us we end up with a short range focus, not only does it strained our eyes, but it blurs our view of anything beyond the end of our nose. But if we adjust our focus we get a bigger picture. We can shift our sight from near to far at will, the choice is ours.  We can succumb to selfish, earthbound thoughts, blurring our view of anything beyond the end of our noses, or we can gaze through this sinful scene and fix our attention on things above. Then, and only then, are we in a position to see what’s most important in life. Paul says to set our sights on reality, what is reality, Jesus is seated on the throne, we need to Focus on the finished work – seated. When we set our sights on the Savior we can stop striving.  This reminder of Jesus being seated at the right hand of God the Father is indicative of His provision, power, and position.

• Position determines how we Process 

The power of the Resurrection puts heaven in our hearts but it needs to be transmitted to our minds. There is eternal thinking and earthly thinking. The Colossians had accepted Christ but it lay dormant because they were engrossed with earthly things. Their earthly priorities were controlling their perspective and directing their lives. We can identify with them, our thoughts, energy, and time can be focused on our agenda of personal success and prosperity. This duality of direction, this split personality is what debilitates so many of us. St. Augustine said, “Christ is not valued at all unless He is valued above all.” When it comes to eternal thinking and earthly thinking, one is everything the other is empty, one is promise focused the other problem focused. Promises.

• Saved from sin – Died to this life and we have no obligation to live like we used to live.
• Safe in Christ – Hidden in Him.  
• Second coming of Christ 
• Share in His glory 

You can use and enjoy earthly things better when you’re not seeking your satisfaction from them but are seeking fulfillment from God. Taste, touch, and tabulate can never really satisfy. Position, popularity, and people don’t bring us security. 

CONCLUSION

If you will be honest with yourself, you will probably find like me that your desires revealed by your thoughts, are more focused on the things of this world than on the things of God. Don’t believe me look at your bank statement it records your priorities and preferences.