Colossians 3:1-4
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (ESV)
So much in the Christian life has to do with the unseen. Our passage brings together in a wonderful way the unseen and the seen.
- Christ is seated at the Right Hand of God
There is a cosmic battle between God and Satan (Rev. 12:7-9, 12).
We need to understand that Christ triumphed over the devil (Mat. 12; Ps. 110; Col. 2:15).
As we look at our own circumstances, we must remember that Christ is victorious. - The Present Age and the Age to Come
When we come to the New Testament, through the first coming of Christ we already experience the coming age, which with His triumph has invaded the present age. Christians has been brought into an experience of this new age, having been made new in Christ.
We are to look in the context of the present age to Christ, who is seated at the right hand of God, and are admonished to look to Him, through whom we have peace with God.
The implications of having been raised in Christ are vast. To set our minds on things above means to look to God’s throne, and seeking the establishment of His kingdom on earth.
Some practical aspects:
a. Learning the power of God to transform us to overcome anger and hatred.
b. Giving expression to the rule of Christ in my work (Col. 3:22-24).
c. Grasping the unseen realities of Christ through faith (Heb. 11:1).