A Call To The Remnant

(Col 3:1-3) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is  sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

This verse starts out with the word “if.” This is just to clarify that the magnificent truths of the Gospel can only ever apply to those who are genuinely born again. And if we are genuinely born again then we are called to have this mind-set, the mindset of Heaven and of God. Our eyes are to be drawn upwards as we seek the manifest glory of God and to be conformed to His image. The seat of all our affections are entirely up to us. What do we seek? Where do we look? What captures our attention? What do you fill your mind with? There are only two paths that lie before us. We can either set our minds on things above, or we can set our minds on the things of earth. The things of earth and the things of heaven should be entirely apparent and are laid out in the following verses in this chapter in the form of the things we “put on,” and the things we “put off.” Note well that we are the ones who are putting on or putting off.

We are to put off, or put to death, fornication. Most notably this would be adultery. Uncleanness, which would be all forms of immorality. Inordinate affections or passions which would be lusts. This could be sexual in nature or it could be a lust for money or power or promotion. It is all idolatry because it “unseats,” the Lord Jesus from His rightful place on the throne of your heart. We have also to put off anger and hateful thoughts and of course any kind of blasphemy should never be heard on our lips. Now, we are not left alone in the putting off of these things. The genuine saint has died and we are hidden in Christ. Therefore we love Him with a love that knows no bounds. In the end this will be your greatest weapon, your very love for Jesus and His love for you and the Holy Spirit will magnify this love in your hearts towards Him. It is our greatest weapon because in genuine love, the very last thing we would ever desire to do would be to displease our heavenly Father.

There are many many people in this world who have excellent and righteous early fathers and mothers. Speak to them and they will tell you that the very last thing in this world would they would ever want to do would be to disappoint them. They say they would rather die than to see the look of disappointment on their faces. Now brothers and sisters, is not our relationship with our heavenly Father so much higher than any earthly relationship? The very notion of disappointing our Heavenly Father should form the greater boundary of the narrow path. And therefore we rather put on all the attributes of the new man, the one who arose with Christ. Tender mercies and kindness should be the order of the day. Humility and meekness should pave the narrow road on which we walk. Long-suffering while continuing in kindness and mercy to others should be one of the many ways that we are marked. Love and forgiveness above all else should be as natural to as it is to breathe for we ourselves are lavish recipients of such. Today, brothers and sisters, put on and put off. Take up your cross daily and you shall do both, to the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus.