COLOSSIANS 3:2-3: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (NKJV)
OBSERVATION: Am I “heavenly minded”? This is what Paul is exhorting us to be in these verses. However, it is not as easy as it appears. First, we live on this earth, and every day we are faced with the struggles of life, our own human weaknesses, and the brokenness of the world we live in. And then there is the warning we have so often heard – “Don’t be so heavenly minded that you are of no earthly good!” So how do we walk in this exhortation given by Paul?
May I rephrase that age old admonition? I would suggest it should go like this – “If you don’t become heavenly minded, you will be of no earthly good!” The Bible is filled with paradoxes. Jesus said that we must die in order to live. Throughout the Bible we are exhorted to give, so that we may receive. And now we are told to look up toward the things of heaven – so that we can discover our true source of life!
The key point is that the meaning, purpose, and fulfillment in life is never found in life itself. It is only found in our relationship to the giver of life! Before our union with Christ through faith, we were estranged from God, and were each desperately looking for meaning, purpose, and fulfillment in the things of this earth – with no avail. All one has to do is read the book of Ecclesiastes to see the emptiness of such a search. Solomon, the richest and wisest man that ever lived, looked for meaning, purpose, and fulfillment in this life (wisdom, accomplishments, riches, projects, etc.), and what was his conclusion?
- “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” (Ecclesiastes 1:2 NLT)
Wait! – Is Solomon saying the life is meaningless? Absolutely not. What Solomon is saying, and what Paul is reminding us of is – life without God is meaningless. If we get so caught up with the things of this life we will miss the true meaning of life, and all the provisions to make this life, and the next, filled with meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. Our identity, our purpose, and our destiny are only found in our relationship with Jesus Christ. When we are united to the Creator through Jesus Christ – we are reunited with our original calling and purpose.
Therefore, we need to focus on the things that are found in Christ. We are to focus on the things that are eternal. We are to focus upon His values, His truth, and His love! When we do that the true meaning and purpose of life comes into focus. And we also discover the things in our life that need to be changed and redeemed so that we can fully enter into His destiny for our lives (continue reading Colossians chapter 3!).
- To set your mind on the things of heaven, is to prepare your mind and soul for the things here on earth.
- To focus on the things of earth, is to miss and dismiss the provisions that are abundantly extended to us in Christ Jesus!
Lord, help me to be “heavenly minded” – so I can truly be “earthly good”! Give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand all that You have provided for my life through Jesus Christ my Lord!
In Jesus Name!
