Grace San Diego

Does perspective make a difference? I was in Seattle with my brother last summer; the day was cloudy and Seattle seemed crowded. It was not a beautiful day. What I didn't realize was that I was about to see the real beauty of the city. We drove to the Space Needle, and made our way up to the revolving restaurant at the top. When we stepped out of the elevator, I was struck by the incredible beauty of the city. The clouds had lifted and the sky had temporarily cleared, (a clear sky in Seattle is always referred to as temporary. ) Seattle is located along the coast and there are mountains to the east. I thought, what a perfect place for a city. As I think back to my visit to that restaurant, I realize that the city did not change, I just had a different perspective-one that gave me a new understanding of Seattle's true beauty.

Notice how important perspective is to our Christian walk in Colossians 3:1-5. "{1} If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. {2} Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. {3} For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. {4} When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. {5} Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry." You may have heard some Bible teachers speak of the "resurrection life." What is it, and how do you live it? The resurrection life is the most incredibly powerful life that a mortal can experience. It is a life of true power while we are on this earth. It's the life pursued by Paul as his ultimate goal in Philippians 3:10,11, "that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection..., being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. "Along with this, there are three things that should be kept in mind as we pursue the "resurrection life" found in Colossians chapter three.

First, in verse one "keep seeking. " The Greek word, zeteo, means to seek or to worship; there is the idea of intense worship. We are being told here to intensify our focus on things above. We cannot do this if we are continually obsessing about the things of this earth. We should put our efforts toward seeking eternal things, e. g. , the character of Christ, sharing eternal salvation with others, heaven's rewards, etc.

Second, in verse two "set your mind," which comes from the Greek word "phroneo" meaning to exercise the mind, and by implication, to be mentally disposed in a certain direction. Notice in verse three we are given the reason for this new focus, "for your life is hidden with Christ." Sometimes we are under the delusion that we cannot refocus our thoughts; that we just think on a passive basis, but we can take control of our thoughts. The key to the resurrection life is refocusing our thoughts on heaven, realizing that verse four is our secured future.

Third, verse five says, "consider your members dead." The word consider, means to make dead. If you are dead, the appetite of the body is powerless over you. Why then do we continue to serve the flesh? It is because we have failed to take the perspective of the resurrection. This new perspective doesn't change who you are, it merely changes your understanding of the reality of who you are. You have a new point of view; everything is clear now. You know that your life is hidden in Christ and you are free to stop serving earthly appetites-"immorality" (perverted sex), "impurity" (inappropriate sex), "passion" (misplaced affection), "evil desire" (the desire for things that are unhealthy) and "greed" (seeking what is not yours. )

Now we are able to see things above the turmoil of the earth and get an eternal perspective. This not only links our heart to a future perspective, but it also gives us power and motivation in dealing with life's temptations. Once a day, preferably in the morning, why not take a mental trip up to the top of the Space Needle and get a whole new perspective on life.

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