If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For, you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Col. 3:1-4
What are we setting our minds on? So many voices cry out for our attention. There are so many messages sent to us through TV, radio, the internet, our Smart Phones. (I still have a stupid phone…lol). How can we possibly keep our focus on the things above when the things of this world scream for our attention?
I think it is essential that, as believers, we purpose in our hearts every day to choose consciously to tune our minds through the Word of God onto heavenly things. We need to remember that the only things on earth that are eternal are people. Instead of focusing on accumulating things or accomplishing tasks, we need to stop and invest our time and energy into the people around us. What does the workaholic Dad or Mom lose in working 60 to 80 hours a week? Their families. They can never regain that time with their spouses or children. Usually, when they wake up and realize the consequences of their choices, it is too late to get back the relationships that they have sacrificed to get ahead in the world. Is it really worth it to gain worldly things while losing our relationships with our families?
How do we avoid this trap? First, we have to realize that our lives are intertwined with Christ’s life and not with the things of this world. The world cannot give us life; it can only rob us of life. Every day we must choose by faith – not by feeling- to receive the Father’s love, acceptance, security, significance, satisfaction, and worth. He alone can meet our deepest needs for intimacy (Into-me-see); no one else can. He alone understands our joys and our sorrows. When we receive these emotional needs from Him, it sets us free from being concerned about what others say and think about us, because His opinion is the only opinion that we truly value. It also puts us in an emotional position to safely reinforce God’s love for others without fear of their rejection. When we live out of this truth, it is much easier to have a proper perspective on the things of this world. As a result, it is easier to maintain the priorities of Jesus first, family second and ourselves third. Our lives are safely hidden in Jesus and our destinies in intertwined with His. Beloved, let’s choose to invest in what is eternal!