Time marches on. Very quickly, two months of the new year have gone!  Two or three years ago, there was a downturn of the country’s economy and the markets were weak. Many people were out of jobs and many had their salaries slashed.  Every one complained of their hardship. Last year, there was an upturn of the economy and the markets were active again. But there came an inflation and prices of many commodities skyrocketed. Once again, people complained. Fortunately, there was a bumper crop in the government treasury and big ‘hongbaos’ were doled out to every citizen. For the time being some are contented. Life is like a windmill, turning and rotating unceasingly. For one moment it is up and the next it is down. How many such cycles can one see in his or her life time? It is soon cut off and we fly away (Ps 90:10). All our richness and prosperity are only temporary. What we should look for is something that will last for eternity. Let us turn to the Bible and learn from it — Colossians 3:1-2. 

“If ye then be risen with Christ.”  Why did the apostle Paul lay down the conditional, “if you then be risen with Christ”? Obviously, there were some believers who have risen with Christ but are still living in their old carnal conditions. By “risen” Paul did not mean the bodily resurrection at Christ’s second return but rather the changed life of every believer who is in Christ . “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor 5:17). “And you hath He quickened (risen), who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1). Believers must examine ourselves often, especially at the beginning of the year. Christ has died for us and redeemed us. Have we truly risen with Him? Have we put to death our old way of life and rise up to a new and consecrated life with Christ?  For a carnal man, no matter how much wealth he has assembled in this world and how much he has enjoyed it, he will never be contented and is always grudging. For us believers, the Bible teaches: “For the love of money is the root of all evil” (1Tim 6:10) and “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim 6:6). 

“Seek those things which are above.”  If we are truly risen with Christ, the things that we seek after must never be things on earth “where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal” (Matt 6:19).  It must be things above.  Our Lord said: “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things” (Matt 6:31-32). This does not mean that we should not work for our living, or enjoy ourselves on earth.  We know that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (Jas 1:17).  As we look up to our heavenly Father, He will send down all the blessings that we need. What does it mean by looking up to our heavenly Father? It means our daily devotion, our prayer life, our Bible study and our service to Him. We have our earthly responsibilities such as our studies, work, health, children and family to look after. We must do them well to the glory of God the Father.  But, at the same time, we must not neglect our Sunday worship, daily Bible study as well as prayer meetings.

“Where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”  What do we know about things above? For one thing we are very sure of and that is Christ is sitting on the right hand of God the Father, where He is praying for us; hearing our prayers, receiving our prayers and petitions. He is also our propitiator between God the Father and us. He has gone to heaven to prepare a place for us. He helps us to defeat the temptations of the devil. He is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2). Are we looking up at Him or are we still looking at those things which will soon vanish away?

“Set your affection on things above.”  Let us therefore seek those things that are of eternal value and set our affection on these things. There are still ten months left of the year. What have you planned to do for the Lord? Our Lord said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt 6:21). Where do you put your treasure and on what do you set affections?  On those things above or things on earth?  The Lord bless you all.

Top of Page