“Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above – where Christ holds the highest position. Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things.” Colossians 3:1-2 (God’s Word Translation)
What do you think your reaction would REALLY be if you knew you had died for a period of time and then been brought back to life? Wouldn’t you be wondering HOW it happened? Wouldn’t you be thankful? Wouldn’t you want to know who was involved? What if there were conditions? Most likely you wouldn’t even mind the conditions – you would just be glad to be alive and agree to whatever the conditions were.
Well, you know what, as followers of Jesus Christ we need to celebrate being alive because before we gave our lives to Him, making and accepting Him as our LORD as well as our Saviour we were just dead, dead, dead – in trespasses and sins on our way to the lake of fire for eternity fast! (Ephesians 2:1)
No matter how much we may have thought we were living life, it was just a silhouette of what life really is. In fact, it was just a sad masquerade shadow of the vibrant relationship God offers us all with Himself.
So, since we recognise how dangerously dead we were and that we are now truly alive and NEW, a very simple question needs to be asked: for what purpose and for who are we alive? Our living is only possible through Jesus Christ therefore our minds, our focus should be on the things of Christ Jesus – spiritual things; heavenly things.
Oh – I hear some say “but we are still living on the earth. I can’t just let things go to pot.” Indeed, that is true. However, are you sure that your solutions to earthly situations are borne from a Christ-focused life or from an intellectual capacity gained from your own experience of the world; of education; of feelings?
The solution to any anxiety attacks; depressions; ungodly desires; loneliness; etc is for us to keep our minds on Christ (Isaiah 26:3-4). This is not about “escapism” it is about living the life we already possess instead of being deceived by the enemy or our own minds that we are still subject only to what we see and experience in this physical world.
There is a lifestyle that depicts the old life we used to have and one that depicts the new life we now have in Christ. Each moment, we choose which one to exhibit. Yes, it is OUR choice and the beautiful fact and truth of the matter is that we have the strength to choose rightly. We have the strength to choose Jesus over any other thing that competes for our time and affection. Do you know which life you are living? It is easy to tell:
Characteristics of old life: sexual sin; perversion; passion; lust; greed (which is the same thing as worshipping wealth); anger; hot tempers; hatred; cursing; obscene language; telling lies; drug use; rivalry; jealousy; selfish ambition; conflict; factions; drunkenness; wild partying; and all similar sins. (Colossians 3:5-9; Galatians 5:19-21 God’s Word Translation)
No matter how acceptable these things may be in the world and also to some Christians, the Word of God says that: “It is because of these sins that God’s anger comes on those who refuse to obey Him.” Col 3:6 and also “…people who do these kinds of things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Gal 5:21.
Characteristics of new life: sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, patient, putting up with each other, forgiving, loving, being controlled by God’s peace, being thankful, having God’s Word in you richly, allowing the fruit of Holy Spirit to manifest, speaking only what is good to help those who hear. (Col 3:12-16; Gal 5:22-23; Eph 4:29 God’s Word Translation)
Begin to take an inventory of your life: what aspects of the old life are still evident in you? How much of the newness in Christ is evident in you? In the next issue we’ll take things further!
Written by Pastor Marjorielyn R Campbell, Petra Global Ministries 2008
E-mail: admin@petraglobal.org.uk
This devotion may be reprinted, copied or distributed with the following acknowledgement shown:
“Reprinted/Copied/Distributed with the permission of:
Pastor Marjorielyn R Campbell, Petra Global Ministries 2008; www.petraglobal.org.uk”
