“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Colossians 3:1, 2
This scripture has recently become one of my favorite go-to texts during the course of a typical day’s activities.
This habit began one day when I was driving along and got cut off by a careless and unobservant driver. The first thought of my natural heart was not a kind one, to say the least. But then out of the blue, the thought came to me, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Suddenly it became crystal clear to me what Paul meant when he wrote this in his letter to the Colossians, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
We can’t know for sure exactly what issues the Colossians were dealing with, but it seems apparent that they were more concerned with temporal earthly matters than with eternal realities.
As I have continued to rely on this text when facing life’s daily challenges, I have found that it applies in a wide variety of situations—not only when faced with a particularly vexing momentary situation, but also when dealing with longer-term, more permanent issues. Our concern should be about overcoming our many character flaws, rather than what is happening in the world around us.
Another situation in which Paul’s wise counsel applies is addressed in this passage from Sister White:
“We may have high anticipations in regard to the things of this life, [that is, things on this earth] but we shall meet with disappointment. We shall find that they fade away. But here [referring to Colossians 3:1, 2] is ‘an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you’ (1 Peter 1:4). We want our thoughts to be fixed on the things that will abide [in other words, eternal realities], not upon those that pass away [or earthly things with the using]. …
“When Christ came into this world, He saw that men had left the future, eternal life out of their reckoning. [In other words, they were not thinking about “things above.”] He came to present that life [eternal realities] before us, that by beholding it we might be led to change our relation to the things of this life, that our affections might be placed upon the things above, and not upon the things of the earth, so soon to pass away. The shadow that Satan has caused to intervene between our souls and God Christ seeks to roll back, [so] that the view of God and eternity may become clear. While He does not despise this world, He places it in its proper position of subordination. And then He places the things of eternity in their relative importance before us, that we may fix the eye of faith upon the unseen [or eternal realities]. [Although] the things of temporal interest have power to engross the thoughts and affections, it is important that we should be constantly educating and training our minds to dwell upon things of eternal interest. Will this make us unhappy? Will it cause us to have a hard time here [on the earth]? No, indeed. … The more of the Spirit of God, the more of His grace, [that] is brought into our daily experience, the less friction there will be, the more happiness we shall have, and the more we shall impart to others.
“God does not design that eternity shall overwhelm us and unfit us for the duties of this life, and it will never do this if we accustom our minds to dwell upon the themes of eternity and mingle them with our life duties. The contemplation of eternal realities will not disqualify us for the duties of this life. All the useful pursuits and activities of life are to stand revealed to us as encircled with the hallowed rainbow of promise.” In Heavenly Places, 307
So, as I learn to be more heavenly minded and less earthly minded, I find that it becomes easier to overlook or bypass situations that might have previously caused me to react harshly or become agitated or angry.
As I try to inculcate this philosophy, this life view, into my daily walk, I see more and more instances in which I need to keep my thoughts heavenward and not earthward. For example, I have realized more clearly that I tend to become agitated when others don’t comprehend a particular situation the way that I do. This agitation sometimes degrades into visible emotional discordance, or as Webster puts it, “a state of disagreement, conflict, or lack of harmony between people, ideas, or things.”
When a situation like this occurs, I find that if I consciously and deliberately make myself shift my perspective from the momentary circumstance to a consideration of heavenly things, such as Christ’s intercession in heaven on my behalf, or the amazing opportunities for spiritual growth and the infinite learning opportunities that the saints will experience in heaven, I can more effectively identify the beam in my own eye rather than the mote in someone else’s. Being more deliberately mindful of a heavenly perspective can result in a very positive degree of success over life’s daily challenges.
“The grand judgment is taking place, and has been going on for some time. Now the Lord says, Measure the temple and the worshipers thereof. Remember when you are walking the streets about your business, God is measuring you; when you are attending your household duties, when you engage in conversation, God is measuring you.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 972
With this perspective and realization in mind, it is easy to understand the importance of keeping our thoughts and actions focused on eternal consequences and not on momentary and soon-passing circumstances.
The following passage provides excellent counsel on this issue.
“Our minds take the level of the things on which our thoughts dwell, and if we think upon earthly things, we shall fail to take the impress of that which is heavenly. We would be greatly benefited by contemplating the mercy, goodness, and love of God; but we sustain great loss by dwelling upon those things which are earthly and temporal. We allow sorrow and care and perplexity to attract our minds to earth, and we magnify a molehill into a mountain. …
“Temporal things are not to engage our whole attention, or engross our minds until our thoughts are entirely of the earth and the earthly. We are to train, discipline, and educate the mind so that we may think in a heavenly channel, that we may dwell on things unseen and eternal, which will be discerned by spiritual vision. It is by seeing Him who is invisible that we may obtain strength of mind and vigor of spirit.” The Signs of the Times, January 9, 1893
Adhering to this counsel—keeping in mind that our thoughts should not be constantly engaged on temporal things, things that are of the earth and the earthly—will enable us to use the daily strength that is promised us to overcome the efforts of the enemy to turn our thoughts earthward by unpleasant or unsettling intrusions that so often occur in our daily activities.
So, what are some of the typical opportunities that life gives me to turn my thoughts heavenward? These are some of the times, which are probably familiar to many.
It has been a somewhat surprising and enlightening experience for me to discover how often life gives me the opportunity and challenge to turn my thoughts heavenward when going about my daily activities. This has been especially true since my initial realization of what I believe Paul was encouraging the Colossians to be mindful of. And since we know that the Bible is the inspired word of God, we can be assured that this counsel is also intended—and indeed helpful—for all who are seeking to reside in the mansions Christ is preparing for His people—one of the many “things above,” by the way, that we should be mindful of.
Dealing with the frustrations of obtaining technical support as you “press one for English,” or trying to get an AI bot to understand why you are calling are prime times to remember heavenly things. Remaining calm when you finally work your way through the number-pressing game and reach a human—if you ever do—is another opportunity to set your mind on things above.
An opportunity that I experience more often than I like occurs when checking out at the grocery store. It amazes me that people don’t prepare to pay for their purchases while they are being tallied by the clerk. Why do they wait until the clerk gives them the total before they search for their cash or credit card? When they begin the checkout process, they certainly know they are going to have to pay. I have finally learned each time this happens to think to myself, “Set my mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
When I consciously make myself do this, I am reminded of another piece of counsel Paul wrote to the Philippians:
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6, 7
I like to paraphrase these texts to more neatly fit my mindset this way:
Don’t worry about anything. Be thankful and prayerful regardless of the situation and the incomprehensible peace of God will guard me against Satan’s efforts to unsettle me.
When I turn my thoughts heavenward in a situation that might otherwise be exasperating, that peace which surpasses all understanding becomes a safe haven against the enemy’s efforts to instill un-Christlike thoughts and feelings in me and I am comforted in the knowledge that God’s promise to give me strength for the day is a reality—strength and presence of mind to set my mind on things above and not on things on the earth.
May it be so with each of us when we are faced with life’s daily challenges.
John R. Pearson is the office manager and a Steps to Life board member. He can be reached by email at johnpearson@stepstolife.org or by phone at 316-788-5559.