Colossians 3:1

Morning Meditations 1/3/15

I am back in Colossians this morning. I am at Colossians 3:1: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."

Paul is dealing with some truths in Colossians that appeals to faith not reason. In Colossians Jesus is Creator (1:16), redeemer (1:14), prior to all things (1:17), the One who holds all things together (1:17), the One in whom all fullness dwells (1:19), the Head of the body (1:18) and the One that made peace through the blood of His cross (1:20).

In Chapter one the Father has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son (1:13). Note the past tense verbs. It has happened. That is a truth already true of us as believers. He says "In Whom we have redemption" (1:14). This redemption is a present tense experience. It is not something to be sought. The believer's past is spoken of in Chapter 1 and verse 21 where Paul says, "And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled." Here again he is speaking of something that has already taken place.

Paul introduces the "hidden mystery" which is now revealed but is still a mystery; "Christ in you, the hope of glory." That truth is a present experience of the believer. That is what Christ is "in us."

In Chapter 2:10 Paul say that we are complete "in Him." That is what we are in Him. He tells us that we are circumcised in a new way as believers in Christ. 2:11-13 "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;" Note that we are buried "with Him" and again we are "risen with Him."

Then in Chapter 3 verse 1 he says "If ye then be risen with Christ." The "if" is a first class condition which means, "If and its true." It could be translated "since." I have been raised with Christ. I am seated with Him in His mediatorial throne today. Is this a fantasy? Is it saying something is true that is not really true? Is He asking us to play like it is true until it is really true? Or, is He saying that this is really true right now and it is time for the believer to start seeing the truth as God presents it with the capacity that God has given us to enter into a relationship with the unseen, i.e. faith. Faith is that sixth sense that God has given the believer that allows him to fellowship with the unseen God and with truths He declares that make absolutely no sense to the natural man.

We are alive in Christ in heaven while we are alive on earth. That is not fantasy. It is true. It is so true that Paul tell us that because this is true ("since" at the beginning of this verse) we are to set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth. A believer who has discovered that he is already alive in Christ and has already been raised in Christ and is living out his life on earth reckoning on this truth is a different kind of person. I praise the Lord that I can set my affections on things above and not be living in a fantasy world. It is the true world of reality for me.

This truth is discouraged by statements like "He is so heavenly minded that he is no earthly good." To be heavenly minded according to this verse is encouraged.

I believe that many of us have operated in our spiritual lives according to the five senses and not included the sixth sense (faith). This turns us into people who operate on the same principles as the unsaved world around us. And it robs us of the supernatural.

I heard a joke the other day. It might help make a point. This Christian died and went to heaven. When he got to the gate he had a gold bar in his hand. He told the gate keeper that he wanted to bring it in. The gate keeper told him to wait until he checked. When he talked to the Lord about it, the Lord ask, "What is it?" The gate keeper said, "I don't know. It looks like a piece of pavement to me!"

Paul said, "If ye then be risen with Christ, see those thing which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."

God bless everyone of you.

In Christ

Earl White