“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 honour at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory” Colossians 3:1-4
Where is your focus? As you go through life what is it that defines the way you see the world? Colossians talks about setting our sights on the realities of heaven. Often I forget this and get consumed and distracted by the realities of earth. It’s so easy to do isn’t it? The things right in front of us that need doing or attending to – the relationships, the work, the tasks, the just-getting-by.
But when our life becomes defined more by earthly things than by what God says we might begin to struggle. The magazine that tells us we should be thinner vs. God saying we’re beautiful; the boss who demands greater achievement vs. God who says we don’t need to achieve anything to be acceptable to and loved by Him; the culture which says we need to consume and own things in order to fit in vs. God who says that real life is not measured by how much we own (Luke 12:15).
Setting our sights on the realities of heaven requires hope and faith – and we often feel it’s risky because heavenly realities are unseen. But the more you get to know the nature of our Father and his character, the more that risk is easier to take and the easier it becomes to see things from God’s point of view.
Today let God show you where you’ve become more defined by an earthly reality rather than a heavenly one. Agree with Him now to set your sights on the realities of heaven and to seek out what that means in your reality.
