In the modern western world we are a curious breed. We are neither strict idolaters nor iconoclasts (destroyers of idols), we are both. We love to take a normal human being like Tiger Woods and confer godlike status upon them; then we wait for a character flaw or misstep to occur, as soon as they falter we destroy them. It can be a sweet old lady like Susan Boyle or an oversexed ego driven athlete like Tiger. We are willing to deify then destroy almost anyone.
This begs the question, why? Why do we engage in this bizarre behavior? Is there something in the water? A cursory glance around makes it plain that none of us meet the high standards we hold our heroes to. Is the media to blame? Is it some sort of mass psychosis? I don’t think so.
I believe that Paschal was right, there is a “God shaped hole” in the human heart and nothing but God can fill it. What fools we are. We vainly attempt to make men into gods, and then we despise them once they fall short. If we seek perfection there is but one place to look. Only Christ qualifies.
“For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God!” The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. Deuteronomy 32:3-4
“The word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying fear not, Abram: I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward.” – Genesis 15:1
To be one who would seek the eternal king only for the blessings he can procure, would be nearly criminal. The trial of which would be held before the very creation that groans, as only earth, space and stars could groan. Such things groan, shatter, collide and quasar, in eager expectation of one solid permanent edifice of reality to protrude beyond the limitations of itself. That thing is the revelation of God’s Sons.
The sons of God will be those who, like their Father Abraham, recognize and believe that their heavenly father is far more than just being some cosmic blessing dispenser. Our Lord told us that the very definition of eternal life was to, “Know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3
In Hosea 7:13-14 God laments, “Woe unto them! For they have fled from me: because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me. And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.”
Do we gather to ask of the Lord for mere provision of the things of the flesh? Or do we gather that his kingdom would come? That his will be done? In earth as it is in heaven? And from this right posture of desire do we then recognize that the purpose of our daily bread is to bolster and follow the desire for every word that proceeds from the mouth of God?
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2
We are here instructed to set our minds on things above, this implies 2 truths. 1. Our minds are not naturally set on things above. 2. If our minds are to be set on things above i.e. heavenly things, we must set them there.
This is not an idea, or a suggestion, it is a command. Notice Paul does not say “God sets the minds of his elect on things above when, and where, and to the degree he wishes.” No! He commands us to set our minds on these things. This is no monergistic act of God; it is either a willful or synergistic act of ours. This is not something we wait for God to do; this is something he is waiting for us to do.
Now herein lies the challenge for 21st century Americans, there are innumerable things vying for our attention, attempting to draw our eyes away from the eternal and onto themselves. We must intentionally separate from these things in order to focus on the eternal. What am I getting at? Merely listening to contemporary Christian music, praying before meals, or reading a 5 minute daily devotional will not give you an eternal mindset or perspective.
So how do we set our minds on things above? Reading your Bible and prayer are a good start but there’s more to it than that. In the following verses Paul lists sins to put away, and godly things to replace them with, this is getting closer. Then he adds the final piece of the Puzzle, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you . . .“ To have a heart for God you must have a heart occupied by God. Without His indwelling, a heavenly mindset is impossible to gain or maintain. If we desire to be his disciples, and see things as he does, we must have a relationship with him.
