Set your affections on things above!

Set your affections on things above!

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. {affection: or, mind} (Colossians 3:1-2 KJV)

Set your affections on things above not on this earth. The glory of heaven being poured out into the lives who abide in Christ. It is so easy to be tied to a world that dictates and arranges the lives of men. Even we Christians find ourselves trapped by the wisdom of the age. Daily we are bombarded with that which comes from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We find ourselves partaking of it, eating of its fruit, which can never nourish the soul. It is what works for the world; men live and die by its decrees. However, it is dark and lifeless. The love of this world and its ways cannot lift the soul one each off the ground. Only the Tree of Life, gives life! However, for some reason we Christians seem to think that we can take from the cursed things, of the world and its ways, and combine it with that which is from above. What does light have to do with darkness? There is no common ground, either we are going to be consumed by one, or the other. As Joshua said to his men: "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15 NKJV)

I know I am often redundant, however truth it never changes. It does not alter because of our every whim. It is not molded and shaped by the souls of men. There is nothing common about abiding faith. It is so other than this world, goes against the grain of the fallen nature of man. The narrow way, few enter, it is another road, not the wide way the masses follow. The narrow way is the way of those who have been crucified with Christ. What keeps the Christian from this life of surrender, is the fact that we cannot see beyond the hardships, and difficulties of this life. We have been trained over and over by the very world that mocks Christ. They teach us, tell us, and demand that we need to live by common sense, by the sight and mind of men. Yet the scriptures tell us: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV) How often have we quoted this? We have Bible studies about it; sing about it; yet seldom live it. I am guilty of allowing this very wonderful truth to be robbed from my journey. We constantly here amongst the Christian circle, “Jesus is the Way, The Truth and the Life,” yet we allow the substance of this dark age to be brought into our fellowship halls. Many amongst us have fallen for its lie, hook, line and sinker. It is Cain's offering. The work of this cursed world held up in pride before God. 'I said to the boastful, 'Do not deal boastfully,' And to the wicked, 'Do not lift up the horn. Do not lift up your horn on high; Do not speak with a stiff neck.'" For exaltation comes neither from the east Nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another. (Psalms 75:4-7 NKJV)

The altars of old were erected of stones, never hewed out by the hands of men. They were that which had been lying upon the earth, in the form they were created. Many of us who like to camp and have a fire, we pick up stones and boulders of many different shapes and sizes, form them into a circle to contain the fire. These stones were just as we found them. I never took them into a shop and set a tool to them to shape them as I saw fit. They were taken as they were and set in place. We come to Christ, and He makes us living stones. He sets our life right to contain the fire. No man can do that, no denomination, no creed, Christ alone. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." (1 Peter 2:4-6 NKJV)

It is His grace that has been poured into our rough, and shattered lives. His mercy, sets us apart, His love, gives us the hind's feet for high places. His armor gives us the courage to face the enemy. His free gift of salvation, fills the trusting soul with faith. Man has not one thing to do with it. No man or group can shape the Christians life. Only abiding in the Vine, will His fruit come forth into our lives. We seek fellowship with other believers, because He is amongst our midst. The Cornerstone, the Head, our Captain, Our King, He builds us up as the New Jerusalem, no one else can. We were bought with a price. We are to be set apart as an altar. Nothing this world can ever build. He uses you and I, the foolish things in this world to confound the wise. If we would just grasp this truth, we would never find a high throne to set ourselves on. In humility we take to the heights. In surrender, we know true freedom. In our weakness we learn of the mightiest strength that gives us the will, the way to fight the good fight of faith. What good thing has He not given us? I have failed Christ often in my unbelief; nonetheless, He is the same today, yesterday, and forever. He is the Solid Rock. All the religions of the world are hewn by the hands of men; even much of what we call Christianity. Amongst us, there is much pride, arrogance, control by those who have set themselves up to dominate, and not liberate. Christ came to set the captives free. No one else can. Thus says the LORD: "In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages; That You may say to the prisoners, 'Go forth,' To those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves.' "They shall feed along the roads, And their pastures shall be on all desolate heights. They shall neither hunger nor thirst, Neither heat nor sun shall strike them; For He who has mercy on them will lead them, Even by the springs of water He will guide them. I will make each of My mountains a road, And My highways shall be elevated. (Isaiah 49:8-11 NKJV)

He has sent His Spirit like a flood to fill us. Turn your heart towards home. Look up, and the cascading waterfall of grace will restore the joy that has been missing. The world has no chains to lock you in. Shake of those fruitless endeavors. Return to your first Love. We sing “In Christ alone”, let it not be an empty echo, but the surrendered life giving all, to He who gave all to us. All other is truly sinking sand. Though we falter in the storms, He remains constant and true. He has never lied to us, cheated us, led us astray. He is life. This world has nothing for us to grasp a hold of. That grip you have so tightly clung to in fear and doubt, let it go, trust again. Raise more than your hands, your heart, mind and spirit, let it arise above all that will turn to rust and dust. On the wings like eagles we will arise in the hope of God alone. Set your affections on things above. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19-20 NKJV)

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17 NKJV)

In His great love, and amazing grace
Tom Faunce 1 John 3:16