Keep seeking the things above! (3)
[Colossians 3:1-4]
Third and last, let's contemplate the reasons and purposes for the continuous call to seek the things above.
We need to set our priorities right, making Jesus our ultimate priority. As Jesus stated in Matthew 6:33, we are to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Similarly, we should pray for God's will to be done on earth, just as Jesus did, prioritizing God's will over our own (Mt. 6:10, 26:39). When we align our priorities with God's, seeking His Kingdom and will, He promises to provide all the necessary provisions (6:33). Consequently, we can live without anxiety about tomorrow (6:34). In Colossians 3:1-4, Paul encourages the Colossian and Laodicean believers and those who haven't seen him face to face (2:1) to continuously think about and seek the things above. The application for us is to consistently prioritize thinking about and seeking the Kingdom of God and His will. In summary, we learn the lesson of setting our focus on the King of the Kingdom and aligning ourselves with Jesus’ twofold commandment of loving God and loving our neighbors. Therefore, the questions we should address are (1) "Why should we continuously seek the things above?" and (2) "What is the purpose of continuously seeking the things above?"
First, when we look at today's passage, Colossians 3:1, it provides at least two reasons why we should seek the "things above":
- The first reason is that we have been raised with Christ.
Look at Colossians 3:1a - "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above ...." Paul had previously mentioned in Colossians 2:12, "having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead." Here, "baptism" symbolizes the experience of dying to the old life and rising to the new life. In Romans 6:3-5, it is stated, "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his." When we believe in Jesus Christ by God's grace, we have already died to sin by being united with Christ. Just as Christ was raised to new life, we are made alive in newness of life. The purpose is for us to walk in this new life. In Colossians 3:1, Paul is telling the Colossian and Laodicean believers and those who haven't seen him face to face (2:1) that the reason they should seek the things above is that they have been raised with Christ. In other words, since they have died and been resurrected with Christ, they are no longer to set their minds on earthly things (2:2), but rather, they are to think about the "things above" and seek them (1:1).
- The second reason is that Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Look at Colossians 3:1b - "...where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." The expression "seated at the right hand of God" is found not only in today's passage but also in Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 1:3 and 8:1. Here, "at the right hand of God" is a figurative expression signifying authority or power. In other words, according to the Bible, Jesus Christ, after dying, resurrecting, and ascending, is seated at the right hand of God, indicating that God has bestowed upon Him authority or power (Kim). When the apostle Paul says, "where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God" (Col. 3:1), the "where" points to the "above" (1:1), specifically referring to the "heavenly" kingdom. When he says, "seated at the right hand" (1:1), I am reminded of Ephesians 2:5-6: "made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Thus, as we contemplate this passage, we recognize that the "above" mentioned in Colossians 3:1 refers to the "heavenly" kingdom. Additionally, when it says, "seated at the right hand" (1:1), I recall what Paul told the Philippians: "But our citizenship is in heaven..." (Phil. 3:20a). Therefore, having received new life together with Christ, being raised with Him, and seated with Him in the heavenly places, we, as citizens of the heavenly kingdom, must continually think about and seek the things above, which are the kingdom of God and the will of God.
So, what is the purpose of continuously seeking the things above? The purpose is to manifest in glory with our Lord when Jesus Christ, who is our life, comes again.
Today's passage is Colossians 3:4, which says, "When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Here, the term "Christ who is your life" is explained in Colossians 3:3, which states, "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." What does this mean? The Believer’s Bible Commentary explains it this way: "The world does not see our spiritual life. People do not understand us. They find it strange that we do not live like them. They do not understand our thoughts, motives, and ways. Just as the world does not see and know the Spirit, as Jesus said, 'whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him' (Jn. 14:17), our spiritual life is also hidden with Christ in God. So, the apostle John said in 1 John 3:1b, 'The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.'" Currently, we are enjoying a spiritual life resurrected with Jesus, which is invisible and incomprehensible to people. However, the day is approaching when our Lord Jesus Christ will come again for His saints. Believer’s Bible Commentary continues: "Then we will appear with Him in glory. So, as citizens of heaven, we are waiting for our Savior from heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:20). When Christ who is our life appears, we also will appear with Him in glory (Col. 3:4). Therefore, with this hope of faith, we continue to think about and seek the things above.