SET YOUR AFFECTION ON THINGS ABOVE
When the scripture says, set your affection on things above, you wonder, since you are on earth. ‘Above’ here, refers to something beyond the dimension of the sky. When you are in a plane or you are an astronaut in space, you are still far from the spiritual dimension concerned here. You go into a plane or an air capsule used for space exploration, to be able to go into space or sky, but that is it. When the scripture says, set your affection on things above, (Colossians 3:2) it is talking about a dimension that has one entry and presently it is spiritual; but soon will be tangible and permanent. This entry to that spiritual dimension above has conditions for achieving it. It involves a transformation by Christ alone.
In Colossians 3:1 it reads, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” The issue here, for us to make any attempt at seeking thing above, we have to know how to be risen with Christ. To be risen with Christ refers to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Remember to look at this being risen with Christ started from the garden of Gethsemane. This was where the pain of death confronted Jesus Christ, (Luke 22:41-44) and He said, “Father if it be thy will, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.” He God who took the form of man, called the Son of God, that came in his Father’s name Jesus Christ (John 5:43) prayed not for himself but for all mankind ( For the joy that was set before him endured the suffering of the cross, Hebrews 12:2). Look back at your sins and the sins of the world today and the sins of men from Adam and Eve; they must be paid for, and that was why God took the form of man to come down for the payment of sin and reconciliation of man back to Himself. Despite the consequences of sin and the divine penalty; God looked around and no human or angelic being was found worthy and qualified to atone for man. It required holy blood. Remember Revelation 5:1-14, “—Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof. And no man in heaven, nor in the earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.:— And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loosen the seven seals thereof.” Only Jesus Christ could ATONE for sin as well as OPEN the seven seals.
In Luke 22:44, Jesus being, in agony in the garden of Gethsemane prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. He agonized for our sins, with sweat drops, as of great drops of blood. He headed to the whipping post where He paid for our diseases and our sickness (By whose stripes ye were healed, 1st Peter 2:24 and Isaiah 53:5). He was crucified, shed His blood and died and the third day He rose from the dead and had the keys of hell and death. Matt.28:18, Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and earth.” He ascended back to heaven and gave men gifts by the Holy Ghost. Christ is seated above and promised in John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am ye may be also.” Imagine a heavenly mansion and what kind of preparation He has gone to make and millions of angels are expecting us to come home. Seek those things which are above.
To be risen with Christ is a work of faith and believe in His finished work, and act on His promises. You cannot be risen with Christ unless you die to sin. God made it less complicated. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with your mouth confession is made unto salvation; that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, (Romans 10:10). You acknowledge you are a sinner and come to His Cross on your knees, confessing your sins to him, start by saying, Lord have mercy upon me a sinner. Ask him for forgiveness and washing you clean with His blood. Then invite Him into your life as front that time to be your Master, Savior, Lord and God. Mean all these from your heart and apologies for running your life all the while without Him. Realize you did not create yourself, and you do not know what can happen to you any moment. He did not consult with you before you came timewise and sure He can call you home with consulting you; He is Lord. When you have done this then you are saved and you begin to live a holy and acceptable life. You immediately get your own King James Bible and begin to read from the gospel of John, find a small Bible believing church to attend and get baptized by immersion in the Name of Jesus Christ. And seek the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Now baptism, according to Romans 6:3-11, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death. Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death; like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” We are now a new creature, old things are past away, and all things become new, (2nd Corinthians 5:17). Salvation is the door to the things above and Jesus Christ is that door. Baptism in faith is an obedient action showing you died with Christ and you are risen with Him. This allows you to the promises of God. You remain faithful to the Lord and draw from the Bank of Heaven. If ye be risen with Christ, seek those things that are above. These things include all the heavenly promises found in Rev. Chapters 2 and 3 encompassing all the seven church ages and the rainbow fishes, the elect man-child and much more. These are for the overcomers. Revelation 21:7 states, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and He shall be my son.”
Imagine the revelations about heaven in Rev. 21, when we get home we shall be in the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God, out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband… having the glory of God: and her light was unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. It has twelve gates and at the gates twelve angels. The gates are never shut, for there is no night there. Imagine also in Rev. 22, about a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the river you have the tree of life and on either side of the river. Just imagine what is waiting for us if we hold fast and be an overcomer. Seek those things which are above. What about your new name, what shall that be? He has a new name in a white stone and only you and God will know the name. Seek those things which are above; but first you must be sure you are risen with Christ, holding fast, that no man can steal your crown. What color or design is your crown or crowns depending on what you are doing on earth now? Remember the most important thing to God now is to help tell another person about the way of salvation and those things which everyone should seek about: But they must first be risen with Christ. Are you risen with Christ then seek those things that are above where Christ sitteth? Remember Elijah went back to heaven in a chariot of fire, we do not know how our flight shall be, but when we get there we shall see a host of brethren. A city 1500 miles square and 1500 miles in height, with 12 gates and 12 angels at the gate of different pearls. Remember above where Christ is, when we arrive there will be no more sorrow, pain, fear worries, sickness, pandemics. The Lord will wipe away all tears and no regrets. Be sure you get there. This is all you need to think about if you are surely risen with Christ. Seek things above. Amen.
084 – SET YOURAFFECTION ON THINGS ABOVE