A Heavenly Life – August 28, 2019

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.
Colossians 3:1,2

A Heavenly Life

How a person walks reveals much about his or her life. A person whose head hangs down and shuffles along says he is carrying the weight of the world. In contrast, a person whose head is held high and walks with a spring in her step says her life is in order.

How a person walks also reveals what is happening in his or her spiritual life. A person struggling with guilt and sin will be noticeably burdened. A person who knows his Savior’s forgiveness will be noticeably joyful. While not scientific, it does help us understand what Paul means when he encourages us to keep our eyes fixed on heavenly things.

Paul is not giving us a recipe for earning our way to heaven, nor is he giving us a way to make God feel better about us. Rather, when we turn our thoughts and hearts to what God has done for us through his Son, there is a change.

We know from painful experience the devil and the world want to weigh us down. Although we desperately want to avoid their influence, we can’t. It remains with us and deceives us into looking for quick fixes and easy solutions. This is why Paul’s words are so precious and powerful. We want to set our hearts on things above, on God the Father and his Son. When we make their work our chief focus, we will see more than a quick fix. Gone will be the guilt and the burden of conscience. Gone will be the baggage that weighs down our hearts.

When we only look to this world for solutions, we will be disappointed. We will be like a leaf blown from place to place. In contrast, when we look to what God has secured through the work of his Son, we will be confident. We will live a heavenly life throughout our earthly stay.

Prayer:
O gracious Lord and Savior, remind me that I am a stranger in this world and my home is in heaven. Keep my eyes ever focused on this place of joy that is waiting for me. Amen.