Our scripture reading for this evening, to which I invite you to turn with me at this time, is found in the New Testament epistle of the Apostle Paul to the church at Colossae, that is, the book of Colossians, the third chapter. In the New Testament, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, chapter 3. It's interesting to note, brothers and sisters, that the Apostle Paul, though he writes to this church in Colossae, had never personally visited the church in Colossa. It was founded by a fellow laborer of the Apostle Paul named Epaphras, who's mentioned in the epistle. He apparently was converted while the Apostle Paul was ministering in Ephesus, as the book of Acts tells us. He subsequently traveled to see Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome around the year 60, 62 AD. And Epaphras reported to Paul what was going on in the church at Colossae. They were facing various problems, pressures, heresies, in fact. For example, they were being seduced into the worship of angels. They were being seduced into diminishing the glory, the full majesty of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They were being tempted to fall back into the Old Testament ceremonial law. They were being led astray into a false asceticism of denying physical pleasures that God gave for us to enjoy. They were being seduced by an early form of the first century AD heresy known as Gnosticism. It was a type of dualism that said the spirit is good, the body is evil, therefore it does not matter how you live, and so on. Well, here in Colossians 3, the Apostle Paul picks up where he obviously left off in chapters 1 and 2, where he corrected so much of that false teaching. And he goes on to say, in effect, therefore, or now let me tell you then how you should be living, where the rubber meets the road as those wholly committed to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We're going to be reading the first 17 verses of Colossians 3, but I draw your special attention to the first four verses. Verses 1 through 4 will constitute our text for tonight. Colossians 3, beginning in verse 1, hear then the word of the Lord. Since then, you have been raised with Christ. Set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature, sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways in the life you once lived, but now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these, anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and is in all. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him. Thus far, the reading of God's holy word. And as always, brothers and sisters, I ask and urge you to keep your Bibles open and handy as we look to God's word together at the close of this Lord's Day. Dear congregation of Jesus Christ, Many years ago, the late Christian author, speaker, and philosopher Francis Schaeffer wrote a book entitled, How Should We Then Live? How Should We Then Live? Perhaps you recall that edition. It was a book which focused on the personal and practical implications and applications of being uncompromisingly committed to certain biblical, ethical, moral, and spiritual truths, especially as they related to the rise and decline of Western thought and culture. As we begin our study of our text for this evening, as recorded for us in Colossians 3, verses 1 through 4, It would not be surprising for us to come to the conclusion that Francis Schaeffer was approaching the writing of that book, How Should We Then Live, after what the Apostle Paul has written here in the first few verses of Colossians chapter 3. And the reason, brothers and sisters, is because as we turn to the study of our text, we find ourselves being challenged by the fact that because each and every true believer and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, has both died with and been raised with Christ. Like the Colossians of old, we must beware falling back into wallowing in the ways and wisdom of this world. Rather, by the grace and mercy and spirit and strength of the Lord our God, we must both hear and heed what God's Word has to say. concerning the very personal and practical exhortation for his people to live their lives being heavenly minded, being heavenly minded. Now, then, what exactly does it mean to be heavenly minded? And how are you and I as Christians supposed to practically apply and implement this biblical exhortation? Well, as we begin to work our way through the words of our text, we find that in order for you and for me and for all Christians everywhere to in fact be heavenly minded, we must first of all ponder our past. We must first of all ponder our past. For example, look at verse 1 of Colossians 3 with me if you would please. Here Paul writes, since then, or as your Bible translation may say, if then, it's another way of being faithful to the Greek grammar. The English authors, the English translators here are trying to indicate that Paul has been laying out a theology, if you will, saying where we stand in Christ, what do we have in Christ, and now given that reality, spiritually speaking, There are very practical implications or consequences which can rightly be drawn from that reality. And so he writes here, since then, or if then, you have been raised with Christ. You have been raised with Christ. Now friends, again, we've got to stop here because this very verb, raised with Christ, has profound spiritual implications for every true believer. If you're taking notes, you may wish to jot down that that verb, raised with Christ, is in the aorist tense, passive voice. And you say, so? Well, what that means is, is that Paul is referring to a one-time past action. Stay with me now. He is referring to a one-time past action, aorist tense, but an action in which you and I were completely passive. It is something not that we did, but something which God accomplished for on behalf of within us. Passive voice. Now, if you're putting two and two together, you may have already concluded that what the Apostle Paul is referring to here is that particular point in time when by God's sovereign grace and electing love, he brought us from spiritual death to spiritual life. He's referring to that particular point in time, brothers and sisters, when you and I, to use the words of Scripture, were born again by the person and power of the Holy Spirit. In fact, if you'll turn back with me to the Gospel according to John, the third chapter, just go back several pages with me if you would, please. You'll recall that this was an incident where Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, approaches Jesus at night. Now, some people have said he approached Jesus at night because he had to work during the day. I think he probably approached Jesus at night because he didn't want to be seen approaching Jesus to talk about these things. And so they get into a conversation, as you well know, and then if you'll drop down to John chapter 3 verses 5 through 8 with me, please. Jesus says to Nicodemus, I tell you the truth. No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, You must be born again. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." Now, if you've stayed in Colossians, turn over to Ephesians. That's right in the neighborhood there. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. In Ephesians 2, verse 4, the Apostle Paul says essentially that very same thing. In Ephesians 2, verse 4, Paul says, Because of His great love for us, His agape love for us, His unconditional, no-strings-attached love for us made manifest in Christ. Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. It is by grace you have been saved, you see. Now brothers and sisters, some of us may have had Damascus Road type of experience like the Apostle Paul Such as is recorded for us in Acts chapter 9 boys and girls young people You may remember the account the Apostle Paul was then known as Saul of Tarsus the greatest persecutor of the church He was on it on the on the road to Damascus to arrest and imprison and persecute Christians and When suddenly there was a blinding light from heaven, it literally knocked Paul to the ground. And the Scriptures tell us that he heard a voice from heaven saying, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It was a radical conversion. And consequently, if you'll turn several pages to the right with me, please, to 1 Timothy 1, we find that Paul gives this little insight into his personal testimony. In 1 Timothy 1, verses 12 through 14, Paul says this, 1 Timothy 1, verse 12, he says, I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, and he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and a violent man, I was shown mercy, because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." He had a radical Damascus Road conversion experience. Now, I strongly suspect that many more of us gathered here this evening did not have that kind of a radical Damascus Road type of conversion experience. I would suppose that the vast majority of us probably cannot even remember a time when we did not know the Lord, when we did not love the Lord, when we were not among the people of God. And so, brothers and sisters, perhaps our testimony is better articulated in 2 Timothy 3, verses 14 and 15, where the Apostle Paul is writing to Timothy, who had that kind of an upbringing. Timothy had a godly grandmother named Lois, and he had a godly mother named Eunice. And here in 2 Timothy 3, verses 14 and 15, Paul says to Timothy, But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of. Because you know those from whom you learned it. And how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Well friends, whatever type of conversion experience we had, the fact of the matter is that if we are in Christ, If we are a believer in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, whether it was a Damascus road, whether it was a Timothy type of growing up in a Christian home, the fact of the matter is that at some particular point in time, by His sovereign grace and electing love, God has brought us from spiritual death to spiritual life. He has brought us to life. He has caused us to be born again. We have been raised with Christ. I love the words of the sacred songwriter when he says, He calls his chosen from afar. They all at Zion's gates arrive. Those who were dead in sin before by sovereign grace are made alive. All glory be to God. Brothers and sisters, if you and I desire to hear and to heed this biblical exhortation, this practical exhortation to be heavenly minded, The Bible says that we who are in Christ must begin living that way, first of all, by pondering our past. We must begin by pondering our past. Abba notice secondly as we go back to Colossians 3 together secondly our text teaches us that if we sincerely desire to obey this practical exhortation to be heavenly minded we must perform in the present we must perform in the present you say perform what perform how well our text goes on to teach us look with me if you would then at Colossians chapter 3 those first couple of verses once again Paul writes Since then, you have been raised with Christ. Set your hearts on the Greek conveys a sense of continual ongoing action, and it's an imperative, it's a command. Set your hearts on things above. When I was looking at this in the original language, I noticed something very, very interesting. If you look at your English, set your hearts on things above, and you want to know what the Greek says, switch the word order. The word order is exactly reversed in order to emphasize something. It would literally read, since then you have been raised with Christ, on the things that are above, keep on setting your hearts. On the things that are above, keep on setting your hearts. Set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated. at the right hand of God." Now friends, just ponder the import of those words just for a moment. Since then, you have been raised with Christ. Keep on setting your hearts on things above. Boys and girls, did you ever play hide and seek? Ever play hide and seek? Young people, did you ever play sardines? I remember once playing sardines in high school. Well, never mind. I'm not going to go there. But the intensity of trying to find somebody, whether it's hide or seek or sardines, is exactly what is being conveyed here. And it is with that kind of intensity that we are to set our hearts and minds on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Now, think about that. You see, people seek all kinds of things in our world today. They set their hearts on all kinds of things in our world today. They may earnestly, diligently, intensely, fervently seek, for example, money. Political power. Material possessions. Certain job or position. Or even another person. And so the fact that someone is seeking something or someone does not make them heavenly minded. We need to be seeking. Earnestly, fervently, intently, the right someone. And the right thing. You know, just before the service tonight, one of our elders made interesting comment. He said, are you going to talk tonight about that expression that people make You can be so heavenly minded that you're no earthly good. Have you ever heard that expression? I heard that many years ago in the days of my youth. I haven't heard it for many years. You could be so heavenly minded that you're no earthly good. But what do you think about that statement? What do you think about that statement? I've been pondering it this week. I told them that I was going to mention this tonight. I've come to conclude that that statement is not true. I don't think it's true. I don't think a person can be so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. In fact, I believe, generally speaking, and I understand the context in which I'm saying this, a person needs to be heavenly minded in order to be earthly good. Or we could adopt the rule of thumb. I believe that to the extent that a person is heavenly minded, they will be earthly good. Think about that. Friends, why should we why should we pursue things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God anyway? Why should we do that anyway? A couple of insights from verse one again. First of all, because it says Christ is seated there. And secondly, because he's seated at God's right hand there. And both of those things have profound implications for our salvation. First of all, the fact that he is seated. Let's go over to Hebrews chapter 10. Just go to the right several pages, right before the end of the last few books of the Bible. Hebrews chapter 10. Hebrews chapter 10. In Hebrews 10, verses 11-14, the author writes, Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties. Again and again he offers the same sacrifices which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Glory be to God, the once and for all sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And he not only sat down, the Bible says, he sat down at the right hand of God. That is the ultimate position of power, majesty, and authority in all of the universe. In fact, in Psalm 110, verse 1, we read, the Lord says to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. Glory be to God. That's where our hearts and our minds are supposed to be. Look again with me at our text. Since then, you have been raised with Christ. Set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds. Young people, think of this. Proverbs 23, verse 7, I think it is, says, As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is. As a man thinketh in his heart, So he is. I had a doctor one time tell me that the human brain can only think one thought at a time. I had a psychologist tell me that it's a great indication of a person's character as to what they're thinking when they're alone and have time to think. So let's ask ourselves, when we're alone and have time to think, what do we think about? And when we can only have one thought, what is that one thought? The Bible says if we are in Christ, we want to live our lives being heavenly minded. We have to set our minds, nail it down in concrete, as it were. Set your minds on things above. Where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Not. Unearthly things, not unearthly things. Matthew Henry says, we must mind the concerns of another world more than the concerns of this. Heaven and earth are contrary one to the other, and the prevalence of our affections for one will proportionately weaken our affection for the other. End of quote. And that's true. And friends, I believe that's exactly why in one Peter one verse one, the apostle Peter writes to God's elect strangers in the world. And in 1 Peter 1.17, Peter again proclaims, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. And in 1 Peter 2.11, King James Version, Peter again declares, dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims. A pilgrim is somebody, boys and girls, who is just passing through. This isn't their forever home. Writes the great reformer John Calvin, Paul here exhorts the Colossians to meditation on the heavenly life. Here exhorts the Colossians to meditation on the heavenly life. And that's what he's doing. But brothers and sisters, let us not misunderstand. The Apostle Paul here is not sanctioning or neglecting of our earthly chores, roles, relationships, or responsibilities by any means, by no means. In fact, if you'll drop down a little further in Colossians 3, where we left off our reading, notice that the Bible says, Wives, submit to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Verse 23, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. And brothers and sisters, further in 1 Corinthians 7, verse 31, the Apostle Paul says that as Christians, we are to be numbered among those who use the things of the world as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. We need to hold the things of this world loosely, not tightly, even as we set our hearts and minds on things above. But again, why do we do that? What's the personal, practical, important implication as to why we do this? We'll look at verse 2 as it goes into verse 3 of Colossians 3. Paul says, set your minds on things above, not on earthly things, for or because you died. and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. What a profound statement, what a glorious insight. You almost can't get your mind wrapped around the implications of that, that our life is now hidden with Christ in God. Matthew Henry again writes, and I quote, not hidden from us only, devoting secrecy but hidden for us, denoting security. This is our comfort, that our life is hidden with Him and stored away safely with Him. Is it any wonder, if you go back a few pages to the left, in Galatians chapter 2, verse 20, the Apostle Paul gives these words of personal testimony, Galatians 2, 20. He says, I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me, hidden, not simply from us, but for us. Security, you see. And friends, I don't know about you, but as I was pondering all of these things over these past couple of days, I had going through my heart and mind the text of the first question and answer of the Heidelberg Catechism. And I would like you to turn there with me just for a moment, if you would, please. It's on page eight in the back of our Psalters, page eight, Heidelberg Catechism, one of the great confessions of the Reformed faith, question and answer number one. I'd like us to read the answer together after I read the question. Page eight, the question asked, and it kind of sets forth the theme of the catechism. What is your only comfort with strength fortress? What is your only comfort? In life and in death, and that answer together is that I am not my own, but belong body and soul in life and in death to my faithful savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven. In fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to Him, Christ, by His Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him. He makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him. And part of that living for Him, brothers and sisters, is that we perform in the present. Perform what? Perform by setting our hearts and minds on things above and not on earthly things, you see. In order for us to hear and to heed this practical exhortation for God's people to be heavenly minded, we must ponder our past, we must perform in the present, and thirdly and finally, we must focus on our future. We must focus on our future. Look at verse 4 with me, if you would please, of Colossians chapter 3. Paul writes, when Christ, who is your life, Think about that one. Christ, who is our life. Why does Paul say that? Well, Paul says that for the very same reason in John chapter 1, the apostle John writes this, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made. Through Him all things were made. Without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. Paul said, when Christ who is your life appears. Some of us have recently lost loved ones. Probably all of us have lost a loved one down through the years. And in John chapter 11, 25 and 26, Jesus said to a weeping Martha as she stood outside the tomb of her brother Lazarus, I am the resurrection and the what? And the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies. And whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Paul said, when Jesus Christ, who is your life, and I was thinking of what John wrote in 1 John chapter 5 verses 11 and 12, 1 John 5, 11 and 12, John says, and this is the testimony, God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life, and he who does not have the Son does not have life. In John chapter 10 verse 10, Jesus said, the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. Young people, listen, I have come that they may have life. and have it to the full, and have it to the full. And so, is it any wonder that Paul writes here in the fourth verse, when Christ, who is your life, appears, phanerao, is made manifest. He's referring to the parousia, to the second coming of our Lord when He returns on the clouds of glory to judge the living and the dead, as we professed in the Apostles' Creed a few minutes ago. When Christ, who is your life, appears, is made manifest, then you also, fellow believer, then you also, fellow Christian, then you also, fellow pilgrim, will appear with Him in glory, in glory. Brothers and sisters, think about that. Writes Calvin, here we have a choice consolation that the coming of Christ will be the manifestation of our life. And that's true. And is it any wonder that in 2 Timothy 2, verses 11 and 12, the Apostle Paul declares, here is a trustworthy saying, if we died with Him, we will also live with Him. If we endure, we will also reign with Him. And then finally on this score in 1 John 3, verse 2, John writes, Dear friends, now we are children of God. And what we will be has not yet been made known, but we know that when he appears, that's the same verb, when he is made manifest, we shall be like him. We shall see him as he is. We shall see him as he is. Brothers and sisters, is it any wonder that on many of these Sunday evenings you and I love to sing? O Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll, the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend. Even so, it is well with my soul. Even so, it is well with my soul. In order for you and me and for all Christians everywhere to be able to hear and heed this practical exhortation for God's people to be heavenly minded, Our text teaches us in no uncertain terms that we must focus on our future. We must focus on our future. You know, friends, I truly believe that one of the most moving, riveting, inspiring accounts in all of Scripture is recorded for us in Acts chapter 7 concerning the martyrdom of the first martyr of the New Testament church, the deacon Stephen. And as we close, I'd invite you to turn there with me to the book of Acts, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts chapter 7, and drop all the way down to the 54th verse. In the first many verses of Acts 7, Stephen has been called before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Supreme Court. He has been recounting 2,000 years of the history of redemptive dealings by the Lord with His people, going from Abraham through Moses and all the way up to the coming of Christ and the fact, as he says in verse 52, you killed the righteous one, the crucifixion of Christ. And then it picks up in Acts 7, verse 54, when they, that is the Sanhedrin, heard this, they were furious. and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God as if to receive His servant. Look, he said, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. At this they covered their ears and yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he fell on his knees and cried out, Lord, do not hold this sin against them. When he had said this, he fell asleep. Think about that. Question. How do you suppose it was possible for Stephen to die with such an amazing amount of grace, peace, and power, even as he was experiencing one of the most painful deaths known to man? He physically, literally, was being stoned to death. How could that possibly have been? answer because By the amazing grace of our Heavenly Father And by the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Literally as he was about to die Our blessed God and Savior gave him a glimpse into glory They gave him a glimpse into heaven That's why. And my dear, dear brother or sister, though I may not know what personal pain or problem or pressure or trial or tribulation you may be facing tonight, I strongly suspect that it is not as painfully horrific as being stoned to death. But even if that were so. Even if what you are going through is the is the the spiritual, physical, emotional equivalent. Of being stoned to death. My brother, my sister in the Lord, listen. That same God. And that same blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has also promised to give to you the same grace and the same peace and the same power which he gave to the martyr Stephen 2000 years ago. And he will, in fact, do so. Especially to the extent. That you and I, by his strength and spirit here and heed. this practical exhortation for God's people to be heavenly minded. Amen. Let's bow our heads in our hearts in prayer together. Since then, you put your name in the blank, Christian. Since then, you have been raised with Christ. Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, Then you also will appear with him. In glory. Oh, Lord, our God. By your grace and mercy. By your strength and spirit. Enable and empower each and every one of us as your people, we pray. Today and every day. To hear and to heed this practical exhortation to be heavenly minded. For our good. And for your eternal glory. Hear us, Heavenly Father, in Jesus name. Amen.