“If ye then be risen…”
(Colossians 3:1-3)
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3).
The life of a Christian is vastly different from the life of those which are not. It is a matter of value. Non-Christians value that which they can see, they can touch, they can have, things connected to this world.
Folks, a love of this world no matter how strong that love maybe, is short lived. You can spend a lifetime gathering material possessions; fill every corner of your life with beautiful things, holding onto them with all your might. Still in a moment’s notice, a snap of the fingers if you please, lose ever bit of it! The world and all that is in it is temporary and perishing (I John 2:17; II Peter 3:10-12).
Do those who love this world think about what will happen when they leave it? I am sure the thought crosses their mind.Somehow they catalog it and file it away to think about later. The dilemma is their affection, they follow their heart, and their heart is on earthly things.
Not so with Christians.They understand this; it is not where you are right now that counts, it is where you are going! When heaven is your goal, your affection will be on things above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Does that mean Christians do not enjoy life? On the contrary. I don’t think anyone enjoys it more, in Christ we have an abundant life (John 10:10). But we do not stake claims in this old world; as a result, there will be no deep sense of loss, because the heart of a child of God is somewhere else.
Like Abraham, Christians look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10). Six verses later this city is spoken of again with these words. “They desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:16).
Now this, to be risen with Christ means you have been buried in baptism with him (Colossians 2:12). Have you been baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3-5)? If not, you can do that tonight, if you believe that Jesus is the Son of God (John 8:24), if you will repent of your past sins (Acts 17:30), if you will confess Christ before men (Romans 10:10), then you can be baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38). Then being risen with Christ, set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth.
Come while we stand to sing