Setting Our Hearts on Things Above
by Lenn ZellerVolunteer Director of Conference Care
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, Who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:1–4)
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ… Since you have truly believed in Jesus Christ and trusted solely in Him for your eternal destiny, then you have been raised to a new life in and by Christ. That’s the Gospel foundation — Jesus gave His life for our sins and was raised to eternal life as Savior and Lord. When we trust in Him we are raised with Him to a new and better life in this present age and to an eternal life of glory in the age to come.
And here Paul said, Since that is true… Set your hearts on things above. Seek the things of God, not the things of this earth. The practical, everyday affairs of life get their direction from Christ in heaven, and we now look at earth from heaven’s point of view. Years ago in Washington, D.C., there was a Senate committee hearing to consider the appointment of a new ambassador to the United Nations. The late Senator Hubert Humphrey made a comment. He said, “You must remember that in politics, how you stand depends on where you sit.” He was referring, of course, to the political party seating arrangement in the Senate, with the Democrats on one side and the Republicans on the other. And which side of the aisle you sat on determined to a large extent how you stood on all the issues that came before the Senate. (Wiersbe, W.W. (1996). The Bible Exposition Commentary Col 3:4b. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
But we walk and live on this earth, with our hearts in heaven, with Christ. He deserves our ultimate loyalty. His truth and His Word and His will determine where we stand and what we do about all the issues that come before us. We need to remember that we serve a great God. We need to remember that we serve His purposes and His kingdom, and He will not be defeated. When conflict arises in our lives… in our churches, in our homes, in our marriages, in our workplaces… it’s a great opportunity to check our own heart.
What is it that we are getting so angry about? Why are we lashing out in such rage and vengeance? Why are we attacking and criticizing and tearing down? We need to ask. What purpose or goal is really being threatened? Is this really about the things of God, honestly, or is it about an idol that we hold dear? Is our heart truly set on God and His kingdom? Or is it set on another god that we hold dear? Is this about our own reputation? Is it because our own standing or status in the church or family or business is being threatened? Is it God’s sovereignty that is being challenged, or our own authority and power?
Most often what really makes us angry reveals what our heart is truly set on and what it is that we truly hold dear. And I suspect that most often what is revealed is an idol of the heart, not a passion for God.
As Warren Wiersbe said it …
“We must constantly keep our affection and our attention fixed on the things of heaven, through the Word and prayer, as well as through worship and service. We can enjoy ‘days of heaven upon the earth’ (Deut. 11:21) if we will keep our hearts and minds in the heavenlies.” (Wiersbe, W.W. (1996). The Bible Exposition Commentary (Col 3:4b). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
We can glorify God in life and in times of conflict by allowing those circumstances to reveal our true heart’s desires and focus and by allowing them to drive us to set our hearts on God and the things of His kingdom.
