Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians3:1-4
Jesus' death and resurrection makes a new life available to us.
In Ephesians 2:1-2 Paul describes the world like this: "you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient."
We were stuck! We lived as broken people in a broken world where Satan (the "ruler of the kingdom of the air") runs amok and we fell under his dominion. But Paul explains that Jesus' resurrection makes a new life available to us:
1. We have been raised _with_ Christ. As certainly as He is alive, we have the assurance that for sin is forgiven and that we do not have to face eternity without God. We will "appear with Him in glory."
2. We now have a new regime/management/allegiance available to us. We don't have to follow the "ruler of the kingdom of the air" - we can follow the One who "is seated at the right hand of God."
3. His resurrection means we have a larger vision. We do not have to focus on the hurly burly of this broken world as our destination. We have _hope_ and _purpose_ because He has made the "things above" available to us. I don't work for a pay-cheque and an earthly boss any more, I work to hear Him say "Well done, good and faithful servant." I don't labour to "keep up with the Joneses" - I labour because it glorifies Christ.
4. I have died to an old life of trying to save myself and I live in the blessed assurance that my life is now securely hidden in the life of the Risen Christ.
This is the resurrection life that is ours! Hallelujah!
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
