Colossians 3:1-2

Colossians chapter 3, I would like to look at the first two verses of this chapter together with you this morning. 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. God blessed to us his sacred and holy word this morning. One day Charles Haddon Spurgeon received a commentary on the book of Leviticus by Andrew Bonart. He was so thrilled with it that he decided he would write the author, asked for his photograph, and if he would also autograph the book. When the book was returned, it bare the first. following note penned by the author, Dear Spurgeon, here is the book with my autograph and photograph. If you had been willing to wait a short season, you could have had a better likeness, for I shall be like him. I shall see him as he is. As I read that particular story, I couldn’t help but think of how Dr. Bonar’s mind was on heavenly things, is our text. indicates he wasn’t just thinking about this life, but he was thinking about the life to come and glorification. And certainly that is a good thing. The apostle here has laid out for us in this book the gospel of Jesus Christ, who he is, what he is accomplished for the sake of his people. In Chapter 2, he spent some time dealing with the issue of false teachers and refuting what they had to say. Now he turns his attention to holiness of life and how we are to live. Where true doctrine is taught, you’ll find that it always leads to holiness of life. And whenever Paul teaches, He usually lays out for us the doctrinal position, and then he makes the application from the doctrine that he has taught. We could outline chapter 3 in this way. We have a general exhortation to all Christians in verses 1 to 17, and then specific exhortation to various classes of Christians in chapter 3, verses 18 to 25, all the way into chapter 4 verse 1 here. Where he talks about husbands and wives and children and parents and workers and employees or employers, I should say. And so, masters and servants, if you would. And so he has different categories that he will be considering. But this morning he gives us a general teaching here, and that is this, you are to seek the things which are above. Now, you should know what constitutes the things which are above our text here. You’ll notice contrast to things of heaven and the things of earth, so that the things which are above are heavenly things. Above is also defined as where Christ sits at the right hand. of the throne of God. And he reigns. In other words, these are the things that relate to God and Christ’s kingdom that we’re talking about. You are a child of God. God is your heavenly father. So your mind should be thinking of your heavenly father and the things associated with him. Sadly, we read of those who do not have God. in their thoughts. They live their life without God, for they have no interest in Him. However, you, throughout your day, as a believer in Christ, are to constantly be thinking about your heavenly love. You, like the Psalmist, speak of God in this manner. You speak of God, my exceeding joy. Do you agree with the Psalmist in Psalm 73? Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Do you say with the psalmas, it’s good for me to draw near unto God? Do you accept what comes into your life as being directed by the providence of God for your good and for His glory? So obviously, We ought to be thinking about God. Now, our text focuses here upon Christ, who is above. Christ is God, but he’s also man. He’s the God man. We are to look under Jesus, the author, and finisher of our faith. And so as we go through this life, Jesus Christ, the Savior commands your attention. Is he not acting as your high priest at this very moment? does he not reign over all as your king? Do you not belong to him as in his kingdom? Is he not the head of the church as well as the savior of the body? What place does Christ have in your daily thoughts? That’s a good question for us. If we’re to think about those things which you’re above, we ought to be thinking about Christ. Can you imagine the number of words it would take to write a 30-volume set of the Encyclopedia Britannic? It would be an awesome number of words. But even more amazing is the fact that 26 different letters were all that were used to make that 30-volume set. The authors didn’t have to get that 30-volume set. go outside of the alphabet to assemble that massive collection of knowledge. The alphabet provide everything needed for such a monumental task. Well, Jesus Christ tells us that he’s alpha and omega. He’s the beginning in the end. He’s the first letter and the last letter of the Greek alphabet. And there’s a sense in which we don’t have to go outside of him for anything that we need. Everything is in him. And therefore, certainly, he’s should be in our thoughts. What else is above? Is there not an inheritance? Also above for us, as the people of God? Do we not look forward to that place that Jesus Christ said he was going to prepare for us? And we look forward to that place that’s reserved in heaven. You remember how Mr. Christian’s mind was constantly occupied about the celestial city. All through, as he’s going, he’s going, he’s. fall on the narrow road because that’s where he wants to go. He’s thinking about heaven like Abraham of old. We’re to be looking for a city whose builder and maker is God, which hath foundations. Our true citizenship is in Mount Zion. We’re connected with the heavenly Jerusalem where there are an innumerable company of angels, just men made perfect, and so forth. A holy city, glorious in appearance, unchanging, unperishable, eternal. The place the Savior has prepared for eternal rest for us. Here you are. You are a pilgrim in this life. You’re walking through this life, and you should think about those things which are above. God, the Father, Jesus, Jesus. Christ, the inheritance you have, and so forth. These are the kinds of things we ought to be thinking about. Now, your duty is to seek these heavenly things. The word seek here means to pursue or to desire these things. This is further described as set your affections on the things above. The Greek word here, Branao, means to mind, to regard, to favor to delight in the things that are above. What Paul is teaching here, I think is the same as what Christ taught. Seek ye first. This is the priority. Seek ye first, the kingdom of God and His righteousness. That should be your chief interest as you go through this life. You are to seek the things of God in the eternal happiness of heaven as your chief goal in life. You know, a person is going to seek in this life what they prize the most. Whatever you put priority on, that’s what really is going to grab your attention and your interest as you go through this life. That’s what you’re going to savor. That’s what you’re going to love the best. The first place in your life will be given to something. The question is what is it given to? What occupies your mind? What is the most important thing to you? Is it riches? Is it just getting a good job and getting ahead in the world? Is it a matter of power? Is it a matter of pleasure? Is it a matter of accumulation of possessions? Or is it the things of God? These are the kind of questions we ought to ask ourselves. There was an old Scotchman was asked whether he expected to get to heaven. And he replied, why man I live there. Let us all live in those spiritual things which are the essential features of heaven. You should often go to heaven in your mind in the sense that that that’s where you’re going to stay. That’s where you’re looking forward to. We ought to be thinking about heavenly things. It is said of an old Puritan that heaven was in him before he was in. heaven. That’s necessary for you and I also. You must have heaven in you before you get into heaven. If your mind and affections do not now take you away to heaven before you die, you’re never going to get there afterwards. Let me make a couple of observations. The first observation is this. In order to seek the things of God, you have to appreciate the value of them. You have to prize them. You have to trust them. You have to trust. treasure them. Where do you lay up your treasures? As Jesus taught, do you believe that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him? If you believe that, then you will be seeking the Lord in this life. Can you say, I count all things but lost for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord? Can we be willing to set aside all the things that people prize in this life that we might know Christ and we might follow him. Do we look for a city who has foundations, who is builder and maker is God? You’ll never do this if you do not see these things are worth pursuing. Whatever the cost. That people, as they go through this life, they don’t see this as valuable enough to spend their time and energy pursuing. But we, as the people of God are to seek those things which are above. My second observation is this, heaven is not promised to the spiritually lazy. If you can’t be bothered to seek the things of God in this life, if you can’t be drawing near to God in this life, how can you expect to be near him in the life to come? My third observation is this. You must order your life. With your mind focused on heavenly things at all times. So you are to seek the things which are above. Notice secondly, he says here you must not seek after the things of this earth. Now, you should realize the things of the earth can consume all your attention. You know, people live in this world and they live for the world alone. They don’t seek after God. He’s not even in their thoughts many times. Those who profess to know Christ can’t be like that. To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. A carnal state of mind reveals itself when we pursue only carnal objects in this life. And that’s what we live for. the parable of Jesus how he said that the seed fell on thorny ground. And this is the case of the person who hears the word in the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and other things of this world choke the word and it becomes unfruitful. Now, whatever things pertaining to this life, captivate your heart, and it becomes unfruitful. heart and crowd out spiritual things are thorns that choke the word of God. The things of this earth are easily able to steal away our thoughts and our attention, and we do not give heavenly things the rightful place they deserve many times. When your heart places it. its priority on earthly pursuits, it will end up being an unfruitful life ultimately. You remember that Mr. Christian and hopeful, as they went along, they came to a place. It was called Ease. It was a plane that was called Ease where they found this little hill called Lucre. And there was a silver mine there. And Deemis was a silver mine there. was there telling them, hey, you can come off the road here, can make some money. You can make yourself rich. And he’s calling out to them to come. And hopeful thought, well, let’s go and see. But Mr. Christian said, no, we’re not going to go. We’re not getting off the path here. As he put it this way. Not I. I have heard of this place before now. And how many. have been slain. And besides that treasure is a snare to those who seek it, for it hindereth them in their pilgrimage. And Christian called to deemis, saying, is not the place dangerous? hath it not hindered many in their pilgrimage? Deemus not very dangerous, except to those that are careless, but with all he blushed as he spoke. Christian said to hopeful. Let us not stir a step, but still keep on our way. He wasn’t about to be deterred. He wasn’t about to get sidetracked in his pursuit of the celestial city to pursue after the riches and the wealth of this world. The pursuit of this world’s goods and riches and honor and pleasures and so forth, all can sidetrack you from the narrow road. Priorities are important. The celestial city is what we’re seeking. Now, the things of this world or this earth are not to be your chief and we’re good. Now, this doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t have any care at all about the things of this world. After all, God expects you to work to provide for your family, provide housing and clothing and food and things of this nature. Nor does God forbid you to enjoy the good things that He gives you. you in this life. The living God giveth us richly all things to enjoy. 1 Timothy 617. It was spoken to the rich in this world. Ecclesiastes puts it this way. There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw that it was from the hand of God. For God giveth to a man that is good. in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy. The things you possess in this life are God’s good gifts to you. God doesn’t say you can’t enjoy the things that he gives you. You may acquire and enjoy them with Thanksgiving. Paul’s going to talk here later about the duties of husbands and wives and children and parents and slaves and masters and so forth. We have earthly responsibilities. We have earthly responsibilities. to fulfill those responsibilities. So we may honestly walk before those outside and be providing for our family. You should be a good worker. You should concentrate on what you’re doing when you’re at work. Whether you’re changing a diaper, whether you’re doing computer work, whether you’re stocking a shelf, whether you’re working in a mill, what is forbidden is for you to seek and set your affection on earthly things as your chief good in line as we shall soon see even in your pursuit of earthly things you’re to have a spiritual motivation we’ll be talking about this this is why we can do the things of this world we can get you know we can be working and we can be carrying on what we might call earthly things and still be serving the Lord still be focused on things above this is why we have a different mindset than the world around us. This is the thing that we must always understand when we’re going through this life. As soon as you pursue earthly things in this life and you’re involved in earthly things, if that’s all you’re involved in, then you will have pulled away from the scriptural teaching here, the set your affections on the things. things about. But if you’re raising children, you’re not just raising children, but you’re attempting to raise children for God, it puts a whole new perspective on it, doesn’t it? You’re not just working to support your family. Aren’t you serving Christ? Isn’t that what he’s going to argue here? So that when we are working, if we’re doing it with the right motivation, there’s a sense in which we’re thinking about Christ. and we’re doing the work as unto him. As a child, you’re not merely obeying your parents to please them. You’re seeking to please a higher authority, God himself. You see, these are the kinds of things that help us to live in a manner that he’s commanded us here in verses one and two. The danger is that the things of the earth can allure you away from the heavenly things and become your chief end in this life. But scripture provides many examples who, for people who’s concerned for earthly things, ended up superseding their spiritual interest to their own downfall. The Bible speaks about those who sought earthly things to the point that God was their belly, their appetite was their main goal. You know, feeding their desires was their main goal in life. Remember Christ’s parable of the Great Supper, where the king sends us, to his servant to call people to the supper. But people preferred the care of their fields, the taking care of their oxen, and the love of their wives before the call of heaven. Look at Esau. Well, Saul, sold the birthright for a potage of lentils. One of the gatherings when Jesus went there and cast out the man who had all those demons in him. It was out of his mind living among the tombstones. They were more concerned about the pigs who ran off the cliff and drowned. Then weren’t about Christ who healed a man that they could not even chain. He was so wild. and they ask him to leave. Think about that. Jesus warned not to love father, mother, brother, sisters, or alliances or possessions more than him. Look with me at Luke chapter 10 if you would this morning. I want to look at verses 38 to 40. Now it came to pass as they went. They entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister have left me serve alone? Bid her, therefore, that she helped me. Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. But one thing. is needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Now, Mary and Martha were both believers. They both loved the Lord Jesus Christ. Both were happy to sit at Jesus’ feet. Both were happy to hear him teach. However, when Jesus visited their home, Martha was concerned to provide for him, and evidently those who had come to hear him, so she had a, at least a small crowd there at the house, and she wanted to be a good hostess, and she’s trying to take care of them, and she was cumbered here or drawn away. She was distracted by all this serving that she was doing. She got upset because Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet learning. Well, she’s doing all the work, and I can understand her being upset about this. situation. Now Jesus here mildly rebukes her because she had let the earthly concerns become her soul concern, you see, her main focus. Mary is commanded or commended here for choosing that good part, the heavenly interest, and will be rewarded for it. We have to be, as we go through this life, like Mary. Not that we shouldn’t be, Martha was certainly taking care of bodily needs, and that’s also necessary, but there are priorities. There are things that take precedence over other things. And while we need to take care of the body as well as the soul, our focus should not be such that we become drawn away, do we lose focus on what is important. and the spiritual matters. So you must not seek after the things of this earth. My third thought is this. The reason you are to seek the things which are above. First, he says, because of your resurrection with Christ here. He says in our text this morning that if he be risen with Christ. Now he’s not talking about his future resurrection. He’s talking about his future resurrection. He’s about a spiritual resurrection that you’ve already enjoyed. He’s talked about that in chapter 2 and verses 12 and 13, where we were dead in sins, but we’ve been quickened. We’ve been made alive by the Lord. Our present spiritual resurrection of the soul is what ought to cause us to focus upon the things above. The same divine power which raised Christ physically from the dead has raised you from spiritual death. And being dead in trespasses and sins you were quickened by the Spirit of God. As the scripture said, God hath quickened us together with Christ and raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Him. Fees 2, verses 5 and 6. And so there’s a sense in which we are risen with Christ. And we are associated with Him. We are to be like Christ in that our mindset is to be on heavenly things. You are the mind of things that are on high. Have your mind elevated beyond this earthly life and the earthly things associated with it to have the mind of Christ? Do you have a spiritual mindset? The only way to forsake for God, you? the world and to follow Christ is to think beyond earthly things to heavenly concerns. Those who are risen with Christ, those who have been spiritually raised and have to have a regeneration are the ones who are thinking about Christ and His kingdom. They’re the ones that are focused on doing what the scripture says here. If you’ve never been raised, if you’ve never had a regeneration, been never born again, then you’re going to find this an impossible task because your mindset is not the mind of Christ. And what you need, of course, is to pray that God would grant you spiritual life, raise you from the deadness that you’re in through Christ. Your resurrection with Christ, Your Savior’s exaltation. Here’s the other thing he mentions. Jesus, the God man, is not just raised to heaven, but he sits there. He reigns. He sits as a king in heaven. He is Lord of all. He dispenses and governs all things for the benefit of his church and for his own glory. So that you must live and guide your life in order to please you’re king. And so when you go through this life, you’re not just thinking about your interest in what you’re wanting to do, but you’re thinking, I am a servant of Christ. I am a citizen of the kingdom. What would my king have me to do? You must consider how you may honor the Lord in your decisions and your actions as you go through this life. Everything now comes under the umbrella of the Lordship of Christ. You keep thinking, will the Lord be pleased if I do this or do that? So that while you may be absorbed in earthly concerns because of work and caring for children and family life and taking care of your mate and raising children and everything else, your overall focus is still on the fact that Christ is your king, and I’m serving him regardless of what I’m doing in this life. Everything. is to come under that umbrella. This makes everything you do spiritual nature. This makes everything you do focused upon pleasing your king. And we’ll be looking at that, Lord willing, in the future. But this is the basic teaching of Paul here in this section of scripture before he gets down to the specifics. Well, C.H. Spurgeon requested Dr. Bono. to autograph his book on Leviticus and send him a photograph of himself. He did so, but he reminded Spurgeon that he would have a better likeness when he was glorified. Such should be your mindset as well. You think beyond the things of this life. Are you prepared for eternity? My friends, if your mind is only on earthly things as you go through this life, you’re not. prepared for eternity. Are you like Mr. Christian? In Pilgrim’s Progress, is you’re thinking, I’m heading for the celestial city. And as you go through this life, your focus is on how do I please my Lord? And when am I going to be with him? If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ siteth at the right hand of God. Let’s close. We’re going to part.