“If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things which are above, where Christ is…” (Col. 3:1). When Paul uses the word “IF,” he expresses no doubt that whether Colossians had been raised with Christ He simply shows that since they had been raised with him, there were certain things they should strive to do since they had been. See this word “IF” again in chapter two, verse 20. “If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world.” Does he mean to express uncertainty whether they had “died with Christ” or not? Of course not. There was no such doubt with him for he said they had died, and their life had been hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).
Seeking things above should and must be the aim of every one who has been raised with Christ. Being raised necessarily implies they had “died” (Col. 2:20; 3:3). The sinner is dead in his trespasses and sins. He has died because he has been separated from God by his sins (Isa. 59:1; Eph. 2:1). Nevertheless, that is not the “death” of which the apostle writes here. The “dying” we must experience is a “dying” to self. Hear Paul again. “I have been crucified with Christ and it no longer I that live but Christ who liveth in me…” (Gal. 2:20). Self interest leads men to seek things of this world, elevating self’s interest. So “self” must be crucified that Christ may make the sinner dead to the guilt of his sins.
Seeking the things above means we have our affections on things above. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where thy treasure is, there thy heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19-21).
Abraham and other ancient worthies sought for a heavenly country (Heb. 11:13-16). So should we, for our citizenship is also in heaven, (Phil. 3:20). “For ye died and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). The Christian’s life is “merged” with Christ. He lives Christ’s ways, not his. He speak Christ’s words, not his. He lives, but he has submitted himself so fully to Christ’s doctrine that none see him, they see in him a reflection of his Master. He is not his own, he has been bought with a price. It behooves him to glorify Christ in his body (1 Cor. 6:19).
“When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory” (Col. 3:4). This is the Christian’s hope. Our lives have been merged with Christ, yet we have not ceased to be. When He returns again, He will bring His saints with him! (1 Thess. 4:14).
So, why should we seek “things above”? We should seek those things for we are part of a decaying world. To escape it’s decay (along with the rest of the world), we must look at the unseen eternal things (2 Cor. 4:18).
Contrary to the prevalent notion, Christians will get out of this world alive — if we hide our lives in Christ!
Jim McDonald