The Best Focus

“Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2 CSB)

One of the criticisms of social action oriented folks with regard to Christianity is that we are too heavenly minded to do any earthly good. The truth, however, is that Christians are not nearly as heavenly minded as we ought to be.

Paul says we are to set our minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. Clearly, we are to focus on the heavenly, but that is not all this means. Our focus on the heavenly means we are to move away from a non-heavenly lifestyle. In later verses we read that we are to “put to death” everything that is worldly. We see there a list of evils we are to get rid of, everything from immorality, to greed, to idolatry, to anger, to foul language. These are the “worldly” things Paul has in mind that we should put to death. And then we are to “put on” a lifestyle that is reflective of a heavenly life, including holiness, love, compassion, kindness, patience, humility, gentleness, and forgiveness. That does not sound at all like people who have their heads in the clouds. Our focus on the things above is intended to impact the ways we live our lives here.

This life is possible only for those who are dead to sin and alive to God in Jesus Christ. It is otherwise impossible to carry out the instruction of this verse. In the spiritual realm, believers are people who have already died to sin and have been spiritually raised with Christ already. That is what frees us to live a heavenly life.

Lord, We thank You for Your redemptive power in our lives, and that You have made it possible now for us to truly set our minds on what is above. Help us in our understanding and application of what that means for us each day. Amen.