Living with an eye on the eternal

Introduction

First, just for you to remember this moment, please look up. What do you see? You may see the ceiling, right? And you know there are things above it, right? Just remember this.

What are the differences between us?

We’re male or female

We have different ages

We have a different background

And more

We ussually use this differences to tag each other. “Here comes the tallest!”, “This is the talkative of the group”, and more.

How would we be defined from God’s perspective?

Those are a few things we will find in the passage in which we’ll be reflecting today.

Colosenses 3:1–4 ESV

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

The great truth of the passage is this:

The Christian life changes when we stop living dominated by the temporal and begin to live from the reality of our union with Christ.

I. Our New Position in Christ (v. 1)

Colosenses 3:1 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

How do we introduce ourselves as followers of Christ? We usually say something as “I’m a Christian” or “I congregate at a Baptist church”. That shows, in some sense, which are our beliefs.

But, what do you think about this definition of those who believe in Jesus?

…you have been raised with Christ…

Doesn’t that sound a little bigger than just saying that we’re Christians?

Yes, the phrase refer to the resurrection, it means that those who believe in Jesus have experiences resurrection with Him.

Does this define you?

Are you one of those who were raised with Jesus?

But, wait! What’s required for someone to experience resurrection? The person should die first!

So, there we find the first question to ask ourselves:

Did you die with Jesus?

Were you raised with Him?

But, wait a minute, isn’t this what we proclaim through baptism?

“Buried with Christ, raised for new life”.

Yes!

The expression does not express doubt, but a reality.

It could be translated:

"Since you have risen with Christ..."

Paul remembers the believer's identity before speaking of his conduct.

Transformation begins with who we are, not what we do.

A. We have died to the old dominion of sin

Our old life is behind us.

Gálatas 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

When you believed in Christ, something of you died.

That part of us that couldn’t reject the power of sin departed, passed away.

B. We have received a new life

Christ's resurrection also defines our spiritual life.

We no longer belong to the kingdom of darkness.

Efesios 2:4–6 ESV

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

2 Corintios 5:17 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

So, Jesus’ life is in us now, through the presence and the work of His Holy Spirit.

C. Our Citizenship Has Changed

We live on earth, but we belong to heaven.

Filipenses 3:20 ESV

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

When a person obtains citizenship of another country, they continue to live in the same world, but now represent another nation and are governed by new rights and responsibilities.

So also the believer represents the Kingdom of God.

We can never live rightly if we forget who we are in Christ.

II. Our New Priority (vv. 1b-2)

Colosenses 3:1–2 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

"Seek the things that are above... Set your minds on the things that are above..."

Here two mandates appear.

It is not enough to know the truth.

We must orient our whole life towards it.

A. Look for the things above

Searching implies continuous pursuit.

It does not speak of escaping from the world.

It speaks of living under the values of the Kingdom of God.

What are "the things above"?

God's will.

Holiness.

Justice.

The glory of Christ.

The advancement of the gospel.

The eternal treasures.

Mateo 6:33 ESV

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

So, what are you looking at? Yes, look up! But use your faith to see beyond what your eyes can see.

B. Set your thoughts on things above

The word used has to do with directing the mind.

It all starts in thoughts.

Romanos 12:2 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

This doesn’t mean we should neglect our responsabilities, but means we need to keep in mind where we belong, and that’s not here.

III. Our New Security (v. 3)

Colosenses 3:3 ESV

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

This is one of the most comforting verses in the New Testament.

A. We have died to the dominion of sin

Our old identity is left behind.

Romanos 6:6 ESV

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

B. Our life is hidden with Christ

It does not mean hidden because God wants to hide it.

It means protected.

Yes, we’re still here, until the Lord wants, but our life is actually “up there”, in the presence of the Lord, where we belong.

Safe.

Saved.

Nothing can separate us from Him.

Romanos 8:38–39 ESV

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

C. Our Security Depends on Christ

Our hope does not rest in our strength.

Rest in Him.

In ancient times, the most valuable treasures were kept in fortresses protected by thick walls and soldiers. The higher the value of the treasure, the greater the security surrounding it.

Thus our life is stored in the safest place possible: in Christ.

The believer can face trials with confidence because his life is sustained by God.

IV. Our Glorious Destiny (v. 4)

Colosenses 3:4 ESV

When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

The whole Christian life points to this moment.

A. Christ is our life

He didn't just give us life.

He is our life.

Juan 15:5 ESV

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Filipenses 1:21 ESV

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

B. Christ Will Return

The story has a glorious ending.

The second coming is a certainty.

Juan 14:1–3 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

C. We Will Share His Glory

Today the world can despise the believer.

But one day Christ will reveal who His children truly are.

1 Juan 3:2 ESV

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

An heir can spend years living simply while waiting for the day when they officially receive the inheritance that is already rightfully theirs.

Believers live with hope today because we know that the promised glory will be fully revealed when Christ returns.

Practical applications

1. Examine where your gaze is set

Are your thoughts dominated by temporal worries or eternal promises?

2. Remember daily who you are in Christ

Identity precedes behavior.

We do not obey to be children of God.

We obey because we already are.

3. Live with an eternal perspective

Today's small decisions have eternal consequences.

Every act of obedience has value before God.

4. Rest in the assurance Christ offers

Circumstances change.

Christ remains.

Our lives are safe in Him.

5. Actively await the Lord's return

Christian hope does not produce passivity.

It produces loyalty.

Those who wait for Christ seek to live in a way that honors them.

Conclusion

Paul does not invite believers to ignore the reality of the world, but to interpret it from a higher reality: that of their union with Christ. We have risen with Him, we live protected in Him, and one day we will be glorified with Him.

The challenge of this passage is clear: the direction of our life depends on the direction of our gaze.

If our eyes remain fixed on passing things, our heart will be filled with anxiety and discouragement. But if we look to Christ, we will find stability, purpose, and hope.

The author of Hebrews sums up this attitude in these words:

Hebreos 12:1–2 ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Today the Lord invites us to raise our gaze. Circumstances may not change immediately, but when Christ is at the center of our vision, He changes how we approach every circumstance. Let us live as people who have already risen with Him, for our true life is in Christ and our future is secured in His glory.