Colossians 3:1-2 "Check Out the View"

Read Colossians 3:1-2.

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." NIV

Wow, chapter 3 is so chocked full of information. We don't see the rules of man, but now we are simply looking at God's laws for how we live our life.

First of all, we have to get the right perspective. We live here on earth in the muck and mire, joys and celebrations that is called life. Everyday we get up, go through a morning routine, go to work or school, interact with others, meet challenges -- sometimes succeeding, sometimes failing. We come home, again interacting with others, this time family -- sometimes succeeding, sometimes failing. We go out with friends or to evening activities or meetings. Come home, unmask, and go to bed. Those are the bare bones of most people's existence to some degree or another. Now in there are interspersed many joyful times and some tragic. Some messy relationships and some amazing friendships. We face temptations and fight discouragement. We experience creative moments that overwhelm us and views of stars and vistas that leave us in awe.

But through all these events, minus a few airplane rides, our perspective is firmly grasped in an earthly view. We see all things linear -- in time and space. There is a beginning to all things and an end. We work, we go home. We cook a meal, eat it, and clean it up. We start projects and finish them. We live, we die.

But God is calling us to a higher perspective -- His view. He's telling us to separate ourselves from this earth, and it's trappings and limitations, and see life as He sees it. We are children of the King and the King is telling us to take a look from the throne room. The view is much different from that angle. The foggy places are clear. The darkness is seen darker, and where the light shines, we are blinded by its brilliance. He's saying that we should see ourselves and our simply little lives from His perspective and embodied in the His view of who we are and what our purpose is. The Almighty invites us to look through His eyes to a hope and a future -- to a better way that rises above the complexities of this earth so we can live in it but not be of it. Will you take a look? The view is amazing.

Further Thoughts:

1. Compare and contrast Paul's life before Christ and after. How did his perspective change?
2. Why do we get stuck in the earthly perspective? What breaks down to make that happen?
3. When are the times that you have seen as God sees?
4. What view do you have right now? Why?