If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.-Colossians 3:1-4
This life is short. It really is. We're here from 0 days to 120 years (though most of us will fall in to the middle somewhere), and we are promised no more than the time we are living at this moment. We do not know what tomorrow will bring, let alone the next 5 minutes. What are we using that time for? To watch another TV show? To make another dollar? To spend just a little more time with the ones we love? To what end do we do all of these things? I know it's a lot to think about, but if we say we follow Jesus Christ, we need to recognize that THIS life is not the goal, Jesus is. This world offers nothing to bring permanent satisfaction. It's time, then, that we set our sights on Jesus Christ. He is our goal. He is the author of and reason for everything. We should be aiming to hear the words "Well done, my good and faithful servant." But this heavenly homecoming comes when we set aside this life, here and now.
The Apostle John wrote about this in his first letter: For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. (1 John 2:16).
In other words, this world holds nothing for us. There are joys, all given from the Father, but this good world that we broke is passing away, and True Life with Him is coming. And so we crucify the flesh with its passions, strain toward the goal, and seek Jesus in all things. We can see a part of the Kingdom now, then we will see it fully. In this life we will be consumed with either Jesus Christ and the Gospel or our own passions, and that is the determining factor in the next life: we will be judged by the Righteousness of Christ, or by the Law if we live apart from Jesus Christ. According to Peter, God is patient, not wanting that any should perish (2nd Peter 3:9), but He will some day judge, because He is just. On that day, it will either be a blessed homecoming, or an eternity apart from Christ. As Joshua told Israel, today is the day to choose. We're not promised any more than now.
Colossians 3:5-17 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
