1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)
Since we’ve been raised with Christ, we must be wise enough to be defined by Him. We are defined by Him when we set our minds on Him and His definition (His word) of all things. Being a Christian means we operate according to a hidden resource, an invisible reality, which the world does not have and cannot see. Our hidden and invisible resource is Christ Himself.
Paul refers to Christ "up in heaven" and "Christ in you, the hope of glory." This extra dimension is not far removed in the reaches of heaven; this dimension is in our hearts. This is an untouchable, invisible dimension within us. And, this is the secret of our power, joy and courage.
"Set your minds" on this hidden resource is not something we do to the exclusion of our regular lives. It is rather that Christ is involved with us every day and in each of our choices. Christ's wisdom, power and knowledge are all available to us, as we seek Him. We primarily seek Him with our minds, however more than just our minds must be involved. Our hearts must be molded and moved by the Lord. This is why a personal relationship is a must. It is the pursuit of our hearts that determines our truest identity.
Paul is talking about bending our wills to what He wants for and of us. Our life, our daily activities, our thoughts include the involvement of Christ. When we separate ourselves from Him, our old faithless and godless selves are found to be sitting on the thrones of our hearts. This is not good.
In Colossians 3:4, we see that when Christ returns, then it will be obvious that we allowed Him to use our trials and hurts to teach us intimacy with Him. As a result, we will share in His glory so that all others will see.
Mike Yaconelli once said it well when he said, "Looking back over the years, I realize the Bible isn't magic, but it is corrective; it isn't an answer book, it is a living book; it isn't a fix-it book, it is relationship book. When I confront God's word, I am confronted; when I read God's word, it reads me; when I seek God's presence, He seeks me."
