If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth (Col. 3:1-2). This scripture raises two questions:

1. Where is above?
2. What are the obvious things that Jesus spoke to that merit our focus on?

In John 8:23, the Lord said, “Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.” Obviously “above” is not the world, the terrestrial habitation of men.

John 14:1-4 where He declared—Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know—makes the habitation of the Lord where He called “above.”

Taking a step further, consider Matthew 6:19-21 where the Lord declared:

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Revelation 21:3,4 further affirms:

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away

and elaborates on the promise to Israel in Leviticus 26:11-12:

And I set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

We thus understand where our focus should be, and what we ought to be doing in preparing ourselves for this destination is the subject of our text from Colossians 3:1,2 as the Lord counselled in Matthew 6:19-21.

Ought we not take this seriously at such a time as this when the pressures of life are quite distractive? Think on this and intentionally ask the Lord to be as Paul spoke to the Philippians in Philippians 3:12-14.

I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me to make me his own. I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however, I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14 (TPT)

Selah.



Pastor Afolabi Oladele