Many times when we’ve arrived at a new stage in our lives, perhaps with school, work, family, hobbies, etc., we may start off with excitement at first but eventually repetition wanes down into a mundane routine which eventually leads to outright boredom. My brother once told me of a friend who clearly had said, “now that I’ve graduated, I don’t know what to do with my life anymore.” School was what she had excelled in and since that season was over, she needed something new in her life to partake in. Something thrilling, exciting! We’ve all felt this way at one point.

“The new job wasn’t what I thought it would be and therefore, I’d like to move on to a new one!”

“He really seemed to be the one, but now, not so much!”

“I know this new major will make me happy with what I’ll do in the future, I just hadn’t thought through the last major change well enough!”

But because both our lives and the seasons which we partake in are always changing, this sort of endeavor is fleeting because eventually something will kick in that reminds us of our need to partake in something greater. But get this that desire isn’t a bad thing. We were created for it!

The first century Christians also struggled with this. They were growing perhaps apathetic to the new found faith and wanted or rather needed a reminder from the Apostle of how the gospel satisfies the heart’s longing to partake in something eternally and death defyingly significant.

What he said to them was remarkable in giving them the opportunity to live the life they were created for. “Set your minds on the things that are above not on things that are on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). In this he wasn’t saying to merely picture angels or imagine what God would look like. He meant rather, to set the mind on those things that God does and to do this in such a way that would cause one to zealously partake in that activity. What is it that God does? Well He creates and He redeems. Included in these are themes of His attributes, the fallen world as a result of sin, the person and the cross of Jesus, the forgiveness that is found in it, the coming again of this Son of God to restore all things. Paul was urging the church to set their life’s goals to bring these things into their lives and thereby to get involved in the activity of God, the activity of redemption. Therefore they would make it their life’s goal to bring the message of Christ to those around them. And as a result they were partnering with God and being amazed by the way He works.

Imagine the change that this brought to their lives. It would look, I assume, like this: Perhaps one made it his goal to be the best fisherman. Well once he accomplished that goal, what next? Or what if another fisherman was the best. Would this individual be destined to lifelong self pity? What if he set his mind and heart on the things above and what if he partook in the activity of God by bringing the gospel to fishermen? Imagine that! Imagine him praying for specific individuals by name and being able to witness God opening up the hearts of these men more and more. Each day he’d be occupied by endeavoring in activities for this cause which will never change – at least not in this life.

This doesn’t have to be limited to the members of the Colossian church. We too are called to this. God wants to use our history, giftings, passions and areas of influence to bring about the message of Jesus Christ here on Earth. Not only does this bring our lives meaning and purpose but this glorifies God!

Imagine what each new morning could look like for you if you continued to set your mind on the things above and not be distracted by the fleeting pleasures of the world?

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.