Being Heavenly Minded Can Lead To Earthly Good
Introduction
Colossians 3:1-4 reads, “So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. 4 When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
It has often been said that to be ‘heavenly minded is to be of no earthly good.” Paul had a very different perspective, which can be clearly seen in Col. 3:1-4. To Paul, truly having an eternal perspective actually enables a Christian to have a real life and to accomplish much that is good. What occupies your thoughts? What are you getting done?
I. A Heavenly Perspective (Col. 3:1-2)
A. You Live What You Think
How you think significantly impacts what you do. More I think about something, the more likely I am to do it. Seek - strive and aim for – heaven.
The idea here is to keep on seeking continually. Matthew 6:33 states, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” Set your mind – think, occupy you minds, fill your thoughts – with heaven.
Philippians 4:8 reads, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.”
B. Not Just about Thinking Only, it is About Doing
We Paul speaks about being raised with Christ, he is speaking to the church, to believers about being co-raised with Christ. This has already happened even though it is physically yet to come. Romans 6:4-11, “Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life. 5 For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin's dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed from sin's claims. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, no longer dies. Death no longer rules over Him. 10 For in that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in that He lives, He lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
This is all about how to live our lives. Above or below? Christ is above. Again it is about a heavenly mindset. It is about thinking like Christ thinks. Seeking after, thinking on and then doing that which is most important. Earth may not be something inherently wrong or evil, and can even be something good. Earth is anything that is above Christ.
John 17:14-16, “I have given them Your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world. 15 I am not praying that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, as I am not of the world.”
II. For All The Right Reasons (Col. 3:3-4)
A. Christ is Supreme (Christ is, at God’s right hand)
Reason that we think and do as stated in verses 1-2. Nothing else provides any answers. Jesus really is the answer. “At the right hand” means in the place of authority and power. Nothing else brings true life.
B. Real Salvation
1. Dead to this life. (For you have died)
That means we are dead to the old way of life (Romans 6:4-11), dead to anything outside of Christ and need to stay dead in those ways.
2. Alive and hidden. (Your life is now hidden)
We are hidden with Christ in God. The believer is with Christ, but Christ is in God. The wording in the JBP (“in God, through Christ”) and the WNT (“in God through your fellowship with Christ”) present this idea in a clearer manner. The opposite of this would be to be alive and on display. Our life would be seen, not Christ’s.
C. One Day (When Christ is revealed)
This is what makes death to this life all worthwhile. Look at 1 John 2:28-3:3, “So now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears we may have boldness and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know this as well: everyone who does what is right has been born of Him. 1 Look at how great a love the Father has given us, that we should be called God's children. And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn't know Him. 2 Dear friends, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure.”
III. Earthly Good
Being heavenly minded equips us for earthly service.
A. Able to Endure Death Daily.
B. Seeing Earth Through Heaven.
C. The Work of Life. (Col. 3-4)
In this life, there is much to be done. Paul says that in order to get it done one needs to be about the practice of occupying the mind with a heavenly perspective. Christ truly is supreme, and salvation is real. Therefore true life is not about the things of this world, but a “true life” lived in this world can produce good results. So, how does one get there? In each and every situation and circumstance put Christ first in thought and in deed.