If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.  (2) Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  (3) For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  (4) When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

The letter to the Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul to the Christians in that city – Paul never visited Colosse.  The first 2 chapters of this letter concern doctrine – the mystery of Christ in them and the circumcision of their hearts “made without hands”.  Paul was saying that the Colossians should put away their fleshy nature of this world as they had died and were raised with Christ in their faith.    Now Paul is turning to the practical application of this doctrine.

How we live is determined by how we think.  Through faith in Christ risen we are new men and women and Paul emphasizes our personal holiness – being outside of worldly concerns in relation to ourselves  and in relation to others.  The sequence here is important:  we must be right in our inner lives before we can be right in our relationships with others in Christ.  This is an ongoing process of sanctification.  If we are raised with Christ in faith we must realize this change – we must BE in practice what we are in position in Christ.

Paul tells us to seek not things of earth but things of the spirit.  We are to become what we already are by God’s grace.  A believer’s relationship with Christ gives him/her a renewed mind and calls for a definite act of will.  We are to find our true north in Christ.  This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pursue our callings and responsibilities on earth but we are to keep our eyes on the prize which is not of this world.  We are drawn into this way of life through faith:  first with baby steps and as we grow in love for Christ we mature.  Things above get daily more important and things of this earth grow daily less important.

Earlier in the letter to the Colossians Paul tells his audience not to pursue or concern themselves with things “which perish with the using”.  We are to keep our feet on earth and our minds and hearts in heaven.   This does not mean to have contempt of things in this world but we are not to set the heart on transitory things as they are only subordinate and instrumental.  What is seen is temporal and what is unseen is eternal.  The things of this world cannot last – all trials, crosses and conflicts are also temporary.  The cross will be replaced by a crown and only things from above are eternal.

I am closing with a quote from c.s. lewis on man’s true purpose:

Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists……. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy the most probable explanation is that it was made for another world.  If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it that does not prove the universe is a fraud.  Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing.