"Living with a Heavenly Perspective"

Colossians 3:1-23

It’s still about Jesus. Do you think it’s possible for a person to love the ideal of marriage, but forget to love their spouse? We get caught up in romantic notions, and dreams, but not connected with the other person. Do you think it’s possible to love the idea of Christianity and forget to love Jesus? To get caught up in the Bible, prophecies, and truths caught up in good deeds and pure living you stop treating Jesus like a person. And treat him like a belief system. It’s called leaving your first love and trust me it’s possible. In Chapter 2, Paul warned us not to get caught up in Christianity without Christ, bad teaching was invading the church. Loving the shadow of Jesus instead of loving the person Jesus. Christianity without Christ is like marriage without a spouse, saying your faith has outgrown Jesus is like saying I got so good at being a husband. I don’t need a wife anymore. Chapter 1, we learned who Jesus is chapter 2 we learned who we are in Christ Jesus. How we are dead, but God made us live in Christ. Those two go together and it’s all meaningless without Christ. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians. These verses call us to live with a heavenly perspective, one that is rooted not in the temporary things of this world, but in the eternal reality of our life in Christ. Look at verse 1: Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

“Always remember to look up”

Word Study

“Set Your Sights”- The Apostle Paul is referencing Matthew 6:33: In how we seek the kingdom of God above all else, live righteously and He will give you everything you need

Paul’s remarks here echo Jesus’ instruction to seek first the kingdom of heaven

The word Set means A position of favor, honor, and authority (Psa 110:1; The Lord said to my Lord,“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”

In the OT, God’s right hand symbolizes strength and salvation. So when we move to the New Testament, the apostle Paul says in Eph 1:19-20). 19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.

Jesus is the strength and Salvation of God

- Our lives are no longer defined by the old self, dominated by sin, fear, or the pursuit of worldly pleasures. We have been raised with Christ! This resurrection power is not just something we hope for in the future, but it is a present reality.

See things above, act, as though you own them with passion I know we can’t get to heaven yet, but setting your mind on the destination changes the journey.

- As believers, our identity is in Christ. We share in His victory over sin and death, and this should radically transform how we live each day. Our lives should reflect this new identity, characterized by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Look at Verse 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

Setting Our Hearts and Minds on Things Above

3:2 Paul probably has in mind the empty human traditions and worldly elemental forces he spoke against throughout ch. 2.

- Paul instructs us: *“Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”*

- This is a call to intentionality. We are to direct our desires, ambitions, and thoughts toward the things of God. It’s easy to become consumed by the concerns of this world—financial pressures, relationships, career goals—but Paul is urging us to lift our gaze higher.

- To set our hearts on things above means that our deepest affections should be centered on Christ and His kingdom. Our priorities should reflect the values of heaven, not the fleeting pleasures of this earth.

- Setting our minds on things above requires a daily renewal of our thoughts, aligning them with God’s Word and His eternal truth. This doesn’t mean we neglect our earthly responsibilities, but rather that we approach them with a mindset shaped by eternity.

Instead, we approach eternity with an earthly perspective. Approaching eternity with earthly perspectives often involves trying to grasp infinite concepts using limited human understanding. Here are some examples:

1. **Time and Eternity**: People often imagine eternity as a never-ending sequence of time, similar to our earthly experience of past, present, and future.

2. **Material Wealth**: Some individuals think of eternity in terms of accumulating wealth or possessions, assuming that what they gather on earth has some value or impact in the afterlife. However, most spiritual traditions teach that material wealth is irrelevant in the eternal realm.

3. **Human Relationships**: Earthly relationships, such as family ties or friendships, are often projected onto concepts of eternity. For instance, people might imagine their relationships continuing unchanged forever.

4. **Heaven as a Physical Place**: Many imagine heaven or the afterlife as a physical location, complete with landscapes, buildings, and other familiar earthly features. However, spiritual teachings often describe these realms as beyond physicality, where the concepts of space and matter don’t apply.

These examples illustrate how our limited, earthly experiences can shape our understanding of eternity, often leading to misconceptions or oversimplifications of these profound concepts.

Verse 3-4 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

The Hidden Life in Christ

This is where we see how Jesus is treated as a belief system.

3:3 Refers to believers sharing in Christ’s death through baptism. in verse 4, Paul underscores the significance of Christ for the believer: Jesus is not peripheral to life; He is life. He imparts God’s life, and He is the center around which life should be oriented.

“peripheral” refers to something that is on the edge or outskirts of something else.

It describes things that are not central or of primary importance, but rather secondary or minor. In the bible, an example of "peripheral" in the general sense might be the focus on external religious practices versus the core spiritual teachings of the faith. For instance, in the New Testament, Jesus often criticizes the Pharisees for emphasizing the peripheral aspects of religious observance, such as strict adherence to rituals and outward appearances, while neglecting the more central, crucial matters like justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

In Matthew 23:23, Jesus says:

*"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."*

Jesus points out that while the Pharisees are meticulous about tithing even the smallest herbs, which are peripheral practices, they overlook the central, more important commandments of God.

The more central and important commandments of God, according to Jesus, can be summarized in two key principles:

Love God and Love Your Neighbor

These two commandments are central because they encompass the essence of all other commandments. Jesus teaches that if everyone adheres to these two principles, they will naturally fulfill the moral and ethical requirements of the entire law. This means that love—both for God and for others—is at the heart of God's expectations for humanity. That’s our heavenly perspective. That’s supposed to be our new reality

While human understanding is limited, the Bible provides us with key insights into the nature of heaven. Here are some of the central realities of heaven: Turn your bible to Revelations

### 1. **The Presence of God**

- **Direct Communion with God:** The most profound reality of heaven is the direct, unmediated presence of God. Revelation 21:3 says, "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.’"

**No Sorrow or Pain:** Revelation 21:4 promises, "‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." This reflects the reality that heaven is free from the suffering, pain, and sadness that characterize earthly life.

- **Worship and Glory:** In heaven, worship is continuous, as described in Revelation 4:8-11

Revelation 4:8–11 (NLT)

Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,

“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power.

For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

Revelation 4:8–10 describes angels around the throne of God who continually proclaim the holiness of God by saying, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is, and is to come". The verse continues, "And day and night, they never cease to say, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is, and is to come

- **Fulfillment of Joy:** In Psalm 16:11, it is written, "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Heaven is a place of ultimate joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction.

What Changes in us?

1. **Prioritization of Values**: It helps prioritize what truly matters, such as love, compassion, and faith, over materialistic or superficial pursuits. By focusing on eternal values, one can live a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

2. **Resilience in Trials**: A heavenly perspective provides strength and hope during difficult times. It reminds people that earthly suffering is temporary and that there is a greater purpose and reward beyond this life.

3. **Guidance for Decisions**: It offers guidance in making decisions that align with spiritual and moral principles, helping individuals live in a way that honors their faith and maintains integrity.

4. **Peace and Contentment**: By focusing on the eternal rather than the temporal, individuals can find peace and contentment, avoiding the anxiety and stress that come from chasing fleeting pleasures or worrying about worldly success.

5. **Purposeful Living**: It encourages a life of purpose and mission, motivating people to live in a way that positively impacts others and prepares them for the life to come.

In summary, living with a heavenly perspective helps us align our lives with higher spiritual goals, providing direction, resilience, and peace in a world full of distractions and challenges.

Treating Christ as merely a belief system can happen when the focus shifts from a personal relationship with Him to a set of doctrines, rituals, or moral guidelines that one follows without deeper engagement.

In essence, Christianity is meant to be more than just a belief system; it is about knowing, loving, and following Christ in a dynamic, personal relationship.

Verse 16

“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.

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