THE POWER OF A NEW AFFECTION

Devotion 8 of 12

"If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." -- Colossians 3:1-3, NASB

THE TEXT #4 Where Christ reigns

The "things" that are above are not mystical things. "Above" does not indicate merely out of sight, or belonging to a mysterious realm. We are told precisely where these things are located; "where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God" (Col 3:1, NASB). These are "things" administered by Jesus Christ, the "Mediator of the new covenant" (Heb 12:24). They are benefits integral to that "better covenant." These "things" relate to the law being put into our hearts and minds. They are "things" that are associated with knowing God; with being His people, and with Him being our God (Heb 8:10-13).

Spiritual life involves dwelling where Jesus is; being raised up to sit together with Him in heavenly places. That is where all the spiritual blessings are (Eph 1:3), and that is where we have been raised (Eph 2:6). God has no lasting benefits that do not come from the throne of Christ. There is no salvation apart from personal identity with the Lord's Christ. Only hearts that are fixed on that realm will dwell forever with the Lord.

"YOUR affection"

Our "affection" is our capacity to enjoy and profit from objective reality. It is a stewardship, given to us when we are delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son (Col 1:13). Our affection is under our control. If we do not ourselves "set" our affection on an object or reality, it cannot be placed there. No one can place your affection for you; you must do it yourself. That is an aspect of the divine imagery within you.

"Affection" is an aspect of our personality that controls our view of life. You do not create affection, it was given to you to be consciously and productively employed for the glory of God. Properly employed, your affection will gain eternal things for you. It is the vehicle through which the things of God become accessible to you.

The logic of the demand

The Spirit confirms the logic of the demand to "set your affection on things above . . . " First, it is the only reasonable thing to do because we have been "raised with Christ." We have been "raised" into heavenly places, and therefore are to seek the things that are there. To suppose you can dwell in the heavenlies while lacking a basic inclination toward the things that are there is an absurdity. Yet, Satan has deceived multitudes into thinking this can be done. It cannot--period!

We have died to the world order, and therefore must not permit our hearts to dwell there. The part of us that has been regenerated has no commonality with "this present evil world." We have been translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son, and are now citizens of that realm (Col 1:13; Phil 3:20). This glorious identity has been occasioned by our death to the world order. We have been lifted above it to "sit together with Christ in the heavenly places" (Eph 2:6). We simply are "not of this world," even as the kingdom into which we have been translated is not of this world(John 15:19; 17:14,19; 18:36).

Our lives are "hid with Christ in God," requiring an affectionate identity with the heavenly realms. There is no advantage to being in Christ if this condition does not ensue. Some think our lives hidden with Christ in God is only a judicious view; i.e., that is how God sees us, but it is not our real situation. If our lives are not actually hidden with Christ in God, Paul's reasoning becomes superfluous. To admonish us to set our affection on things above is foolish if we have not been raised to that realm. If, on the other hand, our persons are really identified with God through Christ, the admonition becomes reasonable, and a response to it possible.

-- TOMORROW: THE ROLE OF THOUGHT IN SPIRITUAL LIFE --