Have you ever stopped to consider what the purpose of your life as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ is? We could become so busy with our daily activities in our family, employment, school and a host of other areas, including Church, that we might not focus on our real purpose for existing as the Blood Washed people of God. I wonder whether this is the reason that Paul wrote to the Church at Colossae saying:
Col 3:1 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 life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
As soon as you see “things above” and “where Christ is” you know Paul is speaking about heaven. Heaven is our Home! We know this for certain because our Lord Himself said:
Jn 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
When Jesus says “In my Father’s House” and “where I am”, you immediate know He speaks of Heaven … our true Home. So the first matter we need to settle in our hearts is that this earth, this country, this province, this city, this suburb and this house made of bricks and mortar is not our forever home. We might love what we have put together. We might have chosen the area to live in. We might have designed the house, built the house, painted and furnished the house. It might be paid for and we might have the title deeds … but get this … it is not our forever home! Heaven is and that is where our Lord God Almighty is. It is His house … our Father’s house. This is where our Lord and Savior is. Our King is in His Castle and that is where our Eternal Home is. Never lose sight of this. Don’t get so busy with earthly matters, irrespective how important they are … remember heaven. That is where you belong. That is where you are going … so don’t travel with baggage … travel light for you are almost there! Although I have hinted on it above, our Heavenly Home has a Head … a Lord, a King, a Master … God the Three in One! Paul explains our Eternal Head this way about Jesus:
Eph 1:20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Our Lord and King is head over everything for the benefit of the Church! What is the Church? It is His Body and the Body is the “fullness of him who fills everything in every way” … but it cannot be like this unless Jesus is “head” … Lord and God over everything. This passage in Ephesians bluntly tells us that Jesus is the Sovereign One. Nothing is outside His control, power, reach or dominion … So we have an Eternal Home (Heaven) and an Eternal Head (Jesus). This in itself ought to prevent us from getting carried away by the magnetic force of things on earth … but there is more … we have an Eternal Hope! Again Paul writes:
Col 1:5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you.
It’s one thing to know about our Heavenly Home and about our Heavenly Head … we need assurance that this is truly for us … and here we find that our response to the gospel gives us the “Hope” of Heaven. We believe what Jesus did for us. We believe He is in heaven. We believe He promises us heaven … that is what the Word of Truth, which is the Gospel teaches us. We believe this. We know it is guaranteed … and through this message we have a certain “hope” of glory. It’s not … I hope it does not rain … no … this hope is assured. It will be so … that is the “hope” we have. Then, into the fray we know our life is no longer ours. Look at Colossians 3:3.
Col 3:3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
This is another way of saying that we belong to God.
1 Cor 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price.
For your life to be “hidden” with Christ in God means God owns you. You are not your own to live life as you please. Life needs to be lived His way for His glory because through His Blood He purchased you from the spiritual slave market. You have a place in Heaven; you have a Lord and King as your Head; you have an assured Hope of Heaven and your life is Hidden in your Head, Jesus Christ … therefore, to return to where we started …this earth and it’s offering must not hold you captive … and this includes people, mortar, gold and silver, image and importance. This means that your “Heart” must be focused on something other than the here and the now! Paul gives us the antidote to earthly and worldly distractions:
Col 3:1 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.
Did you see that? This is not a suggestion or an option. This is a command! Because of your new birth into the Body you are to put the place where Jesus is as the passion of your heart. This is what you must be thinking of! Heaven in your heart causing you to think about that glorious Eternal Place where Jesus is.
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.