“Seek those things which are above” (Colossians 3:1)
May 21, 2021
Amid apostle’s era, the church at Colossae was under attack from false teachers who were denigrating the deity of Lord Jesus. They were deceiving the people implying the Lord as a false teacher but not God. Hereby, apostle Saint Paul wrote an epistle in conferring the teachings which he coveted the Colossian Christians to evade. He presented Lord Christ as the center of the universe, not only as the active Creator but also as the recipient of creation in His taking on of human flesh.
In the Holy bible in the message to the Colossians, Chapter 3, there is a transition from these teachings into a description of spirituality, from the only true teacher: Christ. He encourages Christian believers to focus their attention on godly, spiritual things. Those who are spiritually free, thanks to their faith in Christ should not live in the sins which used to be their habit.
The apostle Saint Paul stated in his epistle to Colossians, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)
The implication ‘To seek’ looking, and so growing, to perfection; It is about anticipating heaven, not only in hope, but in tone and temper, seeing things as God sees them, and seeing all in relation to Him. Christians are to set their minds “above,” because that is where Christ is. Christ is neither on earth nor in the grave. He is at God’s right hand. This was the consistent teaching of Jesus, and of the early church.
In his preaching Saint Paul preached since believers have been saved by Christ, they should not participate in the sins which trap unbelievers. Sexual immorality, jealousy, slander, and revenge should not be part of the Christian’s life. Do not let your heart be carried away with the things of this world
In his epistle to the Hebrews he said “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels.”It can clearly be seen before there can be a risen life there must have been a death. Heaven is represented as magnificent city where God and angels dwelt; and the Christian revelation discloses this to Christians as certainly their final home. They should regard themselves already as dwellers in that city, and live and act as if they saw its splendor and partook of its joy. (Hebrews 12:22)
The life on this earth is provisional. The final goal of a Christian life is to live with God. In order to do that, we should keep seeking the things which are above. “Be followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)
As a Christian God’s image must be reflected within ours. We do this by yielding to the Holy Spirit and taking every thought captive to obedience to Christ. We need to bear the fruits of the spirit that are love, joy, peace, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness ,faith.
