"For You Have Died"

Today I want to spend some time in Colossians 3:1-4.

It reads, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

What does it mean to “seek the things that are above”? 

The Bible teaches that when the Christian is baptized, they literally die and are raised to a new life. The idea is they go under the water and are buried and then come up something new, something different. Different in what way? They now set their minds on things that are above – why? Because their eyes have been opened to eternity.

I am reminded of the scene in the Christmas Classic “White Christmas” at the end when they are singing white Christmas in an inn – hoping for snow and then the wall behind the stage is opened to reveal a beautiful landscape with snow fluttering down. Suddenly the whole picture changes, hopes have been realized, new possibilities spring forward. 

Much like this scene when you and I give our lives to Christ it is because the backdrop has been lifted and we realize there is more to life than this world. We see beyond death and into eternity and that changes everything! Now we live with a focus on the things of eternal significance rather than getting caught up with the trivial. 

This is not to say that we disengage from the world and become uninvolved hermits. On the contrary we are called to get very involved in the world. The difference is we see everything in a different light than the world. Our money, jobs, struggles, possessions, relationships and more become something totally new when we can see beyond them into eternity. 

In his commentary on Colossians the William Barclay puts it this way, “Things which the world thought important, he will not longer worry about. Ambitions which dominated the world, will be powerless to touch him. He will go on using the things of the world but he will use them in a new way. He will, for instance, set giving above getting, serving above ruling, forgiving above avenging. The Christian’s standard of values will be God’s not men’s.”

In verse 3 Paul says, For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. In ancient Greece it was customary to say of those who had died that they were “hidden in the earth”. The Christian has died a spiritual death and instead of their bodies being hidden in the dirt, their souls are hidden with Christ in God. 

The Paul says, When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.We have often said things like “my job is my life” or “sports is my life” or “my kids are my life.” Here Paul says to the Christian – Christ is your life! This is meaningful for Paul – he says things through “To live is Christ” and “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” 

Guys, any loss or death or trouble you endure here – your ties to this world have been cut – you already gave it away – you have nothing to lose here and you’ve already gained everything there. 

So, don’t get distracted with trivial things of this world – in all things remember eternity. You needn’t fear death – you’ve already died – that is already happened – what lies before you is eternity and glory!