Rise
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
Where are you living today – in the world or above it?
Ephesians 1:3-4 assures us that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Our blessings are found in the heavenly places in Christ, and that my friends, is where we are to be living.
Our struggle is the battle between the human and the divine, the visible and the invisible. Physically, we are here on the earth in a human body, but spiritually we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies. It is here, in this heavenly realm, where we find the power and direction for our earthly journey.
The Bible Commentary gives a good illustration:
The President of the United States is not always seated at his desk in the White House, but that executive chair represents the sphere of his life and power. No matter where he is, he is the President, because only he has the privilege of sitting at that desk. Likewise with the Christian: no matter where he may be on this earth, he is seated in the heavenlies with Jesus Christ, and this is the basis of His life and power.
How easy it is for us to get “dragged” down when we live in the world and not above it. We become easily discouraged and depressed as we set our minds on what we see.
- We turn on the news and become disappointed by the darkness and depravity of the world.
- We have friends who get bad news from the doctor and we are saddened as we watch them suffer with cancer.
- We look at the problems and challenges in our personal lives, whether they be financial, or relational and as they pile up, we get dragged down lower and lower until we no longer have the desire to rise.
It has been said that it is possible to be alive and still live in the grave.
When Jesus gave His life for you and for me, He lifted us out of the grave and set us on His throne in heaven. Christ is seated at the right hand of God, and we are seated there in Christ, hidden in Him. We no longer belong to the world, but to Christ and all that we enjoy comes only from Him.To be hidden in Christ is to live completely satisfied and secure in Him.
How are we able to consistently rise above this world?
By setting our minds on things above.
Someone coined the phrase, “looking through rose colored glasses”. For the Christian we look through “eternal colored glasses”.
- When we are living in the heavenlies and turn on the news we recognize that the darkness is an opportunity to bring hope and to rise and share the gospel with everyone we know.
- When we suffer with friends and loved ones who are ill, we rise to celebrate that death has been swallowed up and we will join them soon in heaven.
- When we are challenged in our personal lives, we rise to overcome for we know that God is molding and shaping us by those circumstances and that there is a greater glory of which we do not see.
For those who live in the heavenlies, we do not shrink back, but rise!
For the life we live is by faith!
Faith in an awesome God and His precious promises. Though we do not see their fulfillment yet, we absolutely believe with all our heart, soul, mind and strength that every one will come to pass.
But the choice remains ours – whether to believe and rise above or fall in unbelief.
Believe in His resurrection power my friends and rise!
Choose to live in the heavenlies!