“If then you were raised with Christ,
seek those things which are above, where Christ is,
sitting at the right hand of God”
– Colossians 3:1 –
Colossians 3 is a precious and motivating document for the true Christian life. The apostle Paul began by challenging the brethren: If you were spiritually resurrected in Christ, then live as He wants. That is, think of the heavenly things and not the things of this earth.
What is it like to live with heavenly things in mind? It is fleeing from all sexual immorality and evil desires. It is fleeing from anger, from wickedness, from blasphemy, from obscene language. It is not lying.
However, living with heavenly things in mind is not just about not doing things. It is also having a lifestyle marked by compassion, kindness, humility, patience, meekness, and forgiveness. It is practicing the love of Christ.
The apostle Paul had clear guidelines for the husband and the wife (truly love and depend on each other), for children (obey their parents) and for servants (obey and be sincere). The principle for relationships is this: whatever you so, do it from the heart as for the Lord. That is right: we should not do things while thinking about pleasing people, our boss, our friends. We must do everything while thinking about pleasing our God.
German businessman Oskar Schindler dedicated his life and resources to rescuing Jews from concentration camps. In that way, he saved 1,100 people during the Nazi Holocaust. His body is buried in Jerusalem in memory of a life of compassion for others. He was honored with a pplaque with the following inscription: “He who saves a life saves the whole world.” However, rather than feeling praised by the 1,100 people he had saved, he said to himself: “Maybe I could have saved on more and I didn’t do enough.”
It is clear that what God planned for us is not this world full of sin and death, but a transformed world. We have to walk in this world with our eyes looking toward Heaven.
“There is not one inactive in heaven, and no one
will enter the mansions of bliss who has failed wo show love for Christ,
who has put forth no efforts for the salvation of others”
(Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 207).
How many more people can you save by the faithful testimony of your life?
God bless you…