By Gerald Gates, with thanks to Taylor Ladd whose lesson inspired this article.
From Colossians 3:1-4 (NKJV) “…seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on things of the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
Everyone is subject to the things of this earth. God created us with ability to touch, hear, see, taste and to make choices and judgements based on what we set our minds on. We see the wonderful things of creation, but it is wise to be careful of the things we set our minds on, the things to ponder and pursue in this world that we live in. Our eyes and ears, hands, feet, and mouth can take us many places we may not desire to go. If we do not set our minds on the things of God, then the earthly things are right smack in front of us in a continual distraction to our senses: at home, at work, when shopping, at school, in recreation, in social settings, or even in worship. What things would you spend time, effort, and your means to live on? Many earthly things become distractions that draw our minds away from God in pursuit of things that will pass away.
For example, consider Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden: God had put Adam in the garden to tend and keep it, and God told him that he may eat of every tree of the garden “except” one, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (See Genesis 2:15-17.) When the serpent deceived Eve, lying in regard to God’s command to them. She saw that the tree’s fruit looked good to eat and heard that she would gain knowledge of good and evil, being like God. She chose to eat of the fruit and also gave some to Adam. They were tempted and distracted by the things of the earth that occupied their minds at the time and lost sight of what God–who had provided them everything they needed–had commanded them. They had chosen to set their minds and desires on the things of earth (See Genesis 3:1-7). They fell into the trap that we are warned of in 1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV), “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
How can we set our minds on things above? Moses commanded the people in Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (NKJV) “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words that I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” If Israel had diligently loved the LORD this commandment would have helped them keep their focus on the things of God who would in turn bless them. The things we see and hear and continually keep set before us are the things that we will remember through the trials of this mortal life. If they are but earthly (physical) things, then they will all pass away along with the lust of them. Let us continually keep the words of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ before us to keep them and live by them and speak of them, and to thank God for them. It is good for us to give up earthly things that can be taken away so that we may gain that which we cannot lose, eternal life (treasure in heaven, to know God, and Jesus His Son, who died for us). Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Mark 13:31 (NKJV).
Let us store up treasures in Heaven remembering that if the Lord is with us, then no one on earth can take Him away from us. Everything we see and hear and touch in this world can be taken away. What will we hold fast in our hearts, in our minds, and in our daily lives? May it always be God and his word, His love and grace which are in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins that we might die to sin and live to God, and that we would love one another, as He has loved us.