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 honor 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.
Colossians 3:1-3
Verse 1 of this passage tells us to “…set our sights on the realities of heaven…” I agree with this statement (it is in the Bible, after all, and it is not wise to argue with the Bible). However, I also believe in balance. Although the reality of heaven is very real, we are not to be blind to that which is going on around us. If we did this, a countless number of souls would be lost because everyone would be solely concerned with the afterlife.
I believe what this verse is saying is that we need to live our lives with heaven in mind; but not to ignore our earthly life now and live in a dream world. Nobody ever said, “I’m running low on gas in my car…oh well, that’s an ‘earthly’ thing. I don’t need to be concerned with that.” The facts are as facts are: if you don’t stop to get gas, you will run out.
No, we don’t need to worry about things in our lives because God will provide for us in all situation. However being practical is not the same thing as “worrying or being concerned with.” Jesus felt that it was important enough to come to Earth and help people. He came and walked among the people of earth. He did good deeds and performed miracles. And we should do as He did.
Colossians 3:3 says, “…your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” Let us live for our God. Let us point people towards Him. Let us remind each other and comfort each other discerningly with the very real reality of heaven. Sometimes, we can get so overwhelmed with life and forget that all that we strive for here will pass away. In these moments—when we are so immersed in our earthly doings—we need each other to remind us that what we have here on earth is not all that we have. Matthew 6:19-20 says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” We live with our ultimate goal in mind, but we don’t simply stop being productive.
Be productive for God…always point people to the Father.
And remember that heaven isn’t all that far away.
