If you ever pay attention long enough to commercials on TV you will hear some extraordinary claims.

“This product will change your life.”

“You will never be the same.”

I don’t want to sound like an infomercial but if you embrace Colossians 3 it will change your life. You will never be the same.  But it’s not talking about a set of kitchen knives, a workout plan, or a juicer. It’s talking about something much more important.

This is the start of four posts that cover the majority of Colossians 3 looking at how we can live like Christ right here and now.  We begin with Colossians 3:1-4.

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.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 

Colossians 3:1-4

Paul encourages the Colossians:

• Set your hearts on things above (v.1)
• Set your minds on things above … not on earthly things (v.2)

Or you could say, “Get your mind out of the gutter.”

It’s a simple command but a difficult one to follow. At times heavenly things seem so far away and so far removed. Yet, earthly things constantly stare into our eyes and weigh on our shoulders. Immediately we feel the tension in this passage.

If you have a bad day its much easier to shout “the sky is falling” than “God is on his throne.” Yet, shouting “the sky is falling” doesn’t produce anything productive. Setting your hearts and minds on things above reminds you of the things that are truly important.

While we feel the tension of this passage we must also feel the importance of this passage.

Why set your heart and mind on things above?

• Since you have been raised with Christ.
• For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ.

As kids I’m sure we’ve all played countless games of hide and seek. It’s a simple game. A person is designated as “it.” This person will begin a countdown with his/her eyes closed and back turned. During the countdown everyone scrambles for the best hiding spot they can find. When the countdown is over the person who is “it” shouts, “Ready or not here I come.” The last person found wins the game.

Here in Colossians 3 we find a game of godly hide and seek. Yet, the rules have been changed. It’s actually a game of seek and hide. If you seek to make Jesus Lord, your life is hidden with Christ.

When Christ died the Colossians died alongside him. When Christ was buried the Colossians were buried alongside him. When Christ rose from the grave the Colossians rose from the grave alongside him. This message should bring a tremendous amount of comfort to the follower of Jesus who knows that their sinned stained life is now hidden in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

This is the beauty of baptism. In our baptism we unite with Jesus in his death and resurrection. Set your hearts and minds on things above because in your baptism you united with Jesus in his death and resurrection. For those who have not been baptized, why wait any longer? You can unite with Christ and reunite with him in Heaven.

Practical Steps: 

Confess your sins to God (He will forgive you) We must put a name on it. Many times we let thoughts linger because we refuse to name them as sin.

Pray to God daily (He will guide you)  Two~way communication centered on a personal relationship.

Read your Bible daily (He will speak to you)  24 hour news cycle. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Doom and gloom. We need to hear a word from God.

Connect to Christian community (He will encourage you) You need people that will push you towards holiness not people who will keep you in the gutter. 

Get your mind out of the gutter. There are heavenly things to consider.