Today - Perspective

Prayer - Lord help us to see life through your perspective. Help us to see reality.

Main Passage: “Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above and not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2

Reminder - This is God’s Day

Last week: Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.

We talked about how the day is God’s. It is not the World’s day…it is God’s day given to us.

Is there evil in the world? Yes, we live in a world broken because of sin…it’s not perfect…and we all can see and feel it can’t we?

Have you read or heard or seen the news lately? It’s depressing, scary, uncertain. And we know, deep within our beings, in our hearts and minds, that this is not right. To live like this doesn’t feel right. Something’s wrong and needs fixed. Something is broken and needs renewed refurbished recreated. We all know that and can sense it. We looked at some scripture that confirmed this as well. We have Jesus, as well as Paul, stating to make the most of today, because there is evil in the world.

But in all of that…who’s day is it? It’s God’s. He created the day for us.

Yesterday …yes we can learn from it and gather wisdom from it…but we can’t live in it. Tomorrow, we can think about it, dream and plan, but we can’t live there. All we have right now is today. And God gave us today. What will we do with it? How will we live today?

SLIDE - In Colossians 3:2 Paul encourages us to do this…each day, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Paul encourages us to change our perspective.

Perspective

If it’s true…that today is God’s as the Psalmist wrote so many years ago…which lines up with the truth about creation in Genesis…do we live like that? Many times we don’t right? Many times we get caught focusing on the wrong things. We focus on the wrong things and then allow those things to create a reality for us that isn’t God’s.

Sometimes, we have the wrong perspective. What we need is God’s perspective. I guess another way to say that is that we need to see life through the eyes of God. And wow…that is hard to even think about isn’t it.

We have our own things that we’re doing, things that we’re in the middle of, we don’t have time to just sit and think about looking at life differently. But…let me challenge you right off the bat. Might this be something that could change life for you? We’re always trying to make life better right? We try to find the right diet or exercise plan. We try to find the right movie or show that will make our evening. We try to find that right investment that will secure our future. We try to find the right news outlet or news channel for accurate information. We try to parent the right way. We try to find the right lottery ticket numbers… All so we can live a better or easier or more fulfilled life…doing things our way. The way we see life. Our perspective.

Now…some of you know that you’ve figured it out. And the rest of us can see it. You’re peaceful when things seem frantic. You smile more. You laugh more. You don’t worry as much. ....and the rest of us are jealous of you!

Perspective

A young woman in college wrote the following letter to her parents, her first in three months…and this is in a day well before smart phones, texting and email...

Dear Mom and Dad, I'm sorry it has been so long since my last letter, but I didn't want to worry you about the fire in the dorm and my concussion which happened when I fell out of the window trying to escape. I've been anxious to tell you about that nice attendant from the service station around the corner who made me feel comfortable before the ambulance came. I'm out of the hospital now, and feeling fine, especially since that nice attendant offered to let me stay with him at his apartment while they were fixing the dorm. It's such a nice apartment and he's such a nice person. I really like him very much and I know how happy it will make you to become grandparents. In closing, let me tell you that you can stop worrying. There was no fire, I didn't fall out of the window, I didn't have the concussion, I haven't moved into anyone's apartment, there is no man in my life, and you're not going to be grandparents. I told you all those things because I received a "D" in Biology and an "F" in History and I wanted you to put that into perspective.

Perspective...

These past few months I’ve realized something. I think my wonderful wife realized it before I did...

Some time ago she came home from the Dollar Store with more reading glasses…we were forgetting where we laid all of the ones we had before…one day archeologists are going to go through the burried rubble of our house and think, from the number of buried reading glasses, that we were a manufacturer of reading glasses.

But these were different…they were stronger. The number keeps climbing.

Yes, I could fight through it and squint at pages…I could take more Ibprofen for the headaches…I could hold the book or phone out farther away from my eyes...

…Or I could just put the new glasses on and see with a clear vision.

Point 1 - Sometimes we need to just put down our pride, our knowledge, our opinions...and just ask God for His perspective.

Paul - Colossae

How can we have the right perspective for Today? So we can live well today?

In Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae, that would be the book in our Bibles with the name Colossians, Paul writes a passage that is very relevant for us.

Back in that day, Paul had helped a new believer to grow in his faith…and this somewhat new believer, Epaphras, had gone to Colossae and started a church there. But, there were some who would then bring other religious perspectives into this Christian church …and Paul needed to correct some of this church’s teachings - some of its understandings.

So Paul, knowing the reality of God and the reality of Jesus…His death and resurrection…wrote into this situation. This church was wanting to help others know God more…but there were some people who were teaching other perspectives…that when lined up against God’s view of things, were not true. So there was some confusion. People wanted the right perspective about life. People were looking for what was real in life…they were looking for reality.

SLIDE - So Paul writes things like, “For by Him (that would be Jesus) all things were created: things in Heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:16

All of these spiritual beings…these angels, these people…even though they might not be living in God’s ways…they were still created by him…so keep the right perspective.

He also writes, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than Christ.” Colossians 2:8

Paul is talking about perspective. How do you see the world in which you live? How do you approach each day? What truth…are you holding to.

Are you living via what only science says? Now, I love science…some of you know that. I’ll get sidetracked on a new scientific finding or an astronomy article all day long. I love science. But I always have to remember that our earliest scientists probably got it right when they would say things like…it is science that helps me know more about our creator.

Feelings. Sometimes we’re guided by our feelings. Now, where feelings might be helpful, feelings can be very distracting or even take us down a wrong path. Feelings do not determine truth. Only God determines truth. So sometimes, I have to check my feelings about something against God’s word. Human ideas against the creator’s ideas. I need to look at life from God’s perspective.

SLIDE - Here’s what Paul says, “Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above and not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2

Earthly Perspective vs. The Creator’s Perspective

In 1901, divers off the coast of Antikythera, Greece found something that would amaze and puzzle many people. They came upon a barnacle and rock encrusted machine in the middle of an over 2000 year old shipwreck.

For nearly 50 years no one could figure out what it was. There were lots of guesses and assumptions put out there. It was made of bronze and had gears and cogs and markings. In the mid 1900’s after much study, they thought that it probably was a machine that, when hand cranked, could tell the position of the earth among the stars and constellations. Then after another find, more guesses were made as to even bigger purposes. Many called this an ancient computer. But no one knows for sure what it was truly meant for. Lots of guesses by archaeologists and scientists and astronomers. …lots of guesses as to its true meaning and purpose...

Wouldn’t it be great if you could just go back in time and ask the original designers? Sit down with over a cup of tea…allow them to grab ahold of the crank…and move the gears themselves as they explain every movement, every click…and even better if they could do that outside under a clear sky to show the machine against the constellations...

Wouldn’t that be awesome.

From where do we get our perspective on life? Do we just make guesses as to what is true…what is good? Do we get it from politics? Do we get it from social media influencers…as you scroll through your instagram or snapchat or facebook stories? Do we get it from professors or researchers or scientists? Do we get it from news outlets or media's talking heads? Do we get it from books and music and movies? Do we get it from friends? Where does the right...the correct...the truthful perspective on life come from? I believe that if we can pinpoint who's perspective we should look to, who's perspective we should keep, then we can live Today the best way possible. We can see life for what it truly is. We can live and find joy and peace no matter what is going on around us.

Point 2 - In Christ we have a new life and a new perspective.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

There was an old way of looking at things…the way of looking at things from the perspective of a broken world. Paul writes that if anyone has joined up with Jesus…they are a new creation…something new has happened. The old has gone…the new is here. There is a new perspective available.

Based on their participation in the death of Christ…putting away the old self…believers have a new life. In this new life there is a different perspective. In this new perspective you can have: Freedom from fear. Security. Power for dealing with hostile and outside hostile influences.

Let’s read our passage again, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2

I think Paul here is saying something similar to something we talked about a few months ago. Jesus said, “Seek first the Kingdom of God...” Matthew 6:33

If we are with Jesus…following Him, we have a connection with the creator of the world. The one who placed meaning and purpose into all of creation.

And because we have such a connection with Him, don’t you think we can also ask Him for the right perspective to have so we can live each day to the fullest? Jesus said I have come so you can have life to the fullest. John 10:10

Paul encourages us in his letter to the Romans (Romans 12:2) “And do not be conformed to this age (this world), but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may approve what is the good and well-pleasing and perfect will of God."

When we get the right perspective…the right point of view…God’s point of view…we can see each day how God sees it. We can like the Psalmist wrote, we can find joy and peace in each day. We can find and live God’s will for us each and every day. We can simply be with God, each and every day of our lives both here and into eternity.

Isn’t that reason enough to try and see things from God’s perspective?

Notes applicable to Jan 2021 (political) - Now, we have a fairly intense week coming up. First …the Browns play tonight. And I’m sure many of you will be watching that first playoff game in…what is it? 18 years? Even though I take being a Browns fan fairly seriously, that’s lighthearted compared to what’s on many minds right now.

Politically speaking, we have a week filled with tension and security and fear…and we all know that this is unfortunate. We want to say that this isn’t like us. Friends we need to keep God’s perspective in all of this. We need to be praying for our nation. We need to be praying for both the outgoing and incoming leadership. We need to be praying, with God’s perspective, for all of those who may be in harm’s way. We need to be praying for those police and those called up from the national guard…for their safety. We need to be praying for ourselves … we’ll probably have the opportunity to speak and share our feelings … but we want to do so as ambassadors of Christ…people in His Kingdom. We love America for sure…We love our God even more…and we know that He can intervene and help and save. He can change hearts can’t He?

Through the next few days, we’ll be sending out email prayer reminders through the church list and through the email prayer chain, and we’ll also have reminders on Facebook and Faithlife.

Can you commit today, while praying for God’s perspective, can you commit to pray each day for His will to be done? That’s what Jesus asked us to pray…I think we can do this together as a church family. I know many other followers of Jesus will be doing the same.

On that note...

Let’s Pray,

Lord help us to see things through your eyes. Let us understand each day according to your heart. Help us to live each day according to your will. I know, just like the biblical authors wrote…if we can do that, we’ll have more joy for each day, we’ll have more peace in each day, we’ll simply spend more time with you each day. And if our purpose is to reflect your glory…we’ll be doing that each day too.

Help us to get over our pride. Help us to lay down our perceived wisdom…help us to just see yours. And Lord sometimes that takes a lot of guts and a lot of humility. But in the end, it will be worth it. Jesus prayed that one day we would be with you like it was in the beginning. He died and rose, so that prayer of his could come true…and now its our choice, it is up to us to receive the gift of new life and a new heart…so we can live each day here and each day in eternity in your presence.

Help us as a church family…and we also pray this for all the churches in our neighborhood…help us to do the best we can this week to daily live for you…staying close to you, so our neighbors can see your reflection through us.

In Christ’s name, Amen.