An Eternal Mindset

AN ETERNAL MINDSET

Colossians 3:1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

(Observation) The hope of the believer is in the promise of eternal life with Christ who has risen from the dead and returned to heaven to be “seated at the right hand of God.”  The believer is instructed to set his mind on heaven where he is going, rather than on earth where he is.

(Interpretation) “The things that are on earth” can be seen, but are temporary and by their nature cannot provide eternal life. God, who cannot be seen is eternal and has made provision for men to share in eternity with Him through His Son Jesus Christ, if they will believe.  So, by faith, the believer is to set his mind on what he has been promised, but cannot see.  This purposeful setting of ones mind on an eternity which is promised but cannot be seen is faith. Faith is given by God to anyone who will accept it.  Paul’s advice to the believer in possession of this faith is to “set your mind on the things above.”

(Cross-reference) Hebrews 11: 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Ephesians 2: 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

Matthew 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

(Application) God freely gives this precious, miraculous, saving, faith in Jesus to anyone who believes.  Anyone who believes will receive it and can, as the Colossians are instructed to do, “set your mind on the things above.”  And why not, because that, by the gift of faith, is where believers go.

What do you think? Are you commanded to “set your mind” on what God has promised, that you cannot now see and not on what you can see? If so, what can you do to keep “the things that are on earth” from disrupting an eternal mindset?  If not, why?

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