HE IS RISEN, NOW WHAT?
The resurrection of Jesus, a historical fact, is theologically the most important aspect of the Christian doctrine, because a risen Christ substantiates the rest of Christ’s message and ensures that we have a Lord who is alive and lives within us. If Christ is risen, what follows is elucidated by Paul in Colossians 3;
- Set your hearts on things above:
‘Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.’ (Colossians 3:1)
Setting our hearts refers to fixing our desires. What one wants out of his life is set on the heart by a repeated reinforcement of desires and subsequent action to carry out those desires. If the predominant desire is to become wealthy, one finds ways to earn money and that motive becomes an over-riding desire that rules a person. Now Paul is asking us to fix our desires on heavenly and eternal treasures and re-orient our lives toward achieving those. The image that is created is that of a Christian who sees, considers and rejects great earthly treasures in favor of obedience to God as he sets his desires on things above.
- Set your minds on things above:
‘Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God’. (Colossians 3:2,3)
This refers to the things that we constantly think about. When we open a computer, there are some websites we frequent. Likewise when we are awake, there are some topics that we frequently think about. These could be about family, job related, our future, about vacations, our sports team, etc. There are also some attitudes that are more frequent than others- worry, anger, sadness, etc. While we do need to think about earthly things and have earthly attitudes at the appropriate times, our minds needs to set on heavenly things. This will ensure that our feet are firmly planted in heaven even as we meander through the earthly maze set before us.
- Put to death:
‘Put to death therefore whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatory.’ (Colossians 3:5)
This is the painful necessity of Christianity and a requirement to bring transformation in our lives, which is what setting our minds and hearts is also about. We are born with a sinful nature and with God’s help, we can accomplish the impossible task of being transformed into the image of God. Denying the impulses for earthly thoughts and desires that frequently come to us and putting to death the sinful nature is a command that is painful to carry out, but reaps rich dividends as we progress in our lives.
The risen Christ makes freedom possible, but only if we allow freedom to work out in our lives through the process of re-setting and denial.
