“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, SET YOUR HEARTS ON THINGS ABOVE, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS ABOVE, not on earthly things.” (Col. 3:1-2) When we are born again Christian, we have the power to think about what we choose to think about! So, we must be very careful to, “set our minds (give our attention to) things above, not earthly things.” We must be careful of the many “earthly” things that can so easily distract us. Though it’s true that Christ is with us and WITHIN US while we’re on Earth, it also works in the other direction—we’re united with Christ, so much so that WE ARE SEATED WITH HIM IN HEAVEN: “God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us…made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and MADE US SIT TOGETHER IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS…” (Eph. 2:4-6)
“For you died, and your life is now HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then YOU ALSO WILL APPEAR WITH HIM in glory.” (Col. 3:3-4) We are covered or hidden by the blood of Jesus, He protects us from being overtaken by demonic forces if we make use of the power to hide God’s word in our hearts. The only way the devil can have access to us, is through the wrong things we “put” in our minds. That’s why the scripture says to “set our minds” on things above. “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry…you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” (Col. 3:5-8) These are the things the devil will try to use against us but remember: “…you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on THE NEW SELF, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” (Col. 3:9-10) When we give ourselves to Jesus, He miraculously does these things in us, I was addicted to drugs and alcohol when I asked Jesus in my life and He instantly delivered me!!! My new-self went home and threw it all in the toilet! Now: “…whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Col. 3:17)
WHEN CHRIST, WHO IS YOUR LIFE, APPEARS, THEN YOU ALSO WILL APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY.
-Bill Stockham