Colossians chapter 3. If ye then be risen with Christ,
seek those things. That's the title of the message
tonight. Seek those things. Seek. Seek those things. What things? Which are above.
Where? Where Christ sits. on the right
hand of God, if ye then be risen." Paul poses a premise here. You know what a premise is? It's
something assumed or taken for granted and established as a
basis for argument or an inference is drawn from that premise, if.
If this is true, then something else ought to be true or will
be true. And so this premise is established
here, if. If all that has been said in
chapter two is true of you. If Christ is your completeness.
If you are complete in Him. You remember that word complete
means filled to capacity. If Christ is your all and in
all. And if when you were baptized
it meant something. You remember how he used the
ordinance of baptism to show a picture of what happened to
us spiritually, if there was a spiritual correspondence to
what happened physically, outwardly, when you were baptized, and you
are indeed spiritually dead to the law, dead to sin, in that
sin, as Paul said, shall not have dominion over you, and dead
to the world in the Lord Jesus Christ, if that's true of you,
if it wasn't just a picture, if there was substance to it,
if you were buried with Him, and if you are risen with Him,
alive unto God in Christ, if, if that's true. Now, having established
that premise, Paul makes an argument based upon it. Then seek those
things. Seek those things which are above. If some spiritual things are
true of you, then let this thing be true also. that you seek the
things of Christ. That you seek. The word seek
there is an interesting word. It means seek in order to find. It also means to require it,
to demand it, crave it. That word crave is interesting
to me because I find in the Word of God that that is the true
description of the believer with regard to the things of Christ.
David said, as the heart panteth after the water brooks, so my
soul thirsteth after thee, O God. That's a craving, isn't it? You
crave water. If you're thirsty, you do. You
get out there and till the garden, like what a beautiful day it
was today. Boy, you start craving water after a little while, don't
you? What are the things where Christ sits? Think about that. The things where Christ sits. There are the things of this
world, and then there are the things where Christ sitteth."
Well, first of all, where Christ sitteth is Christ Himself. Turn to John 1. Where Christ sits, the reason
it's called where He sits is because He's there. That's why
it's worth mentioning. John 1, verse 35, Paul said here
to the Colossians, Seek those things which are above where
Christ sits. Seek the Lord Jesus Himself.
Verse 35, John 1. Again, the next day after John
stood and two of his disciples, and looking upon Jesus as He
walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God. There's John standing
there. We saw this in our lesson not
long ago. And two disciples are standing
with him. And he says, Look, there's God's Lamb right there.
And those two disciples, verse 37, heard him speak, and they
followed Jesus. And then Jesus turned and saw
them following and saith unto them, What seek ye? Paul said,
Seek those things. What do you seek tonight? And
they said unto him, Rabbi, which is to say, being interpreted,
Master, Master, where do you live? That's what we want to
know. We want to know where we can find you. Isn't that what
they said? Where can we find you? Where
do you live? And he saith unto them, Come and see, come and
see. And they came and saw where he
dwelt and abode with him that day. Seek. What are you seeking? What if the Lord looked you in
the face tonight and said, What seek ye? What seek ye? What are
you doing here tonight? And then where Christ sits, he
sits as king. He sits as the sovereign. Is
that right? Where He sits is on the throne. He sits on the
throne. So there's something to seek.
We seek His kingdom, don't we? Matthew chapter 6. Turn over
there with me. Matthew chapter 6 and verse 24. The context, the verse that I
thought of, of course, is, seek ye first the Kingdom of God and
His righteousness, and all these things will be added. But I got
to looking at the context of that. Look at verse 24. No man can serve two masters. You're going to have one. Those
two disciples, what did they say? Master, where do you live? We want to know where you are.
Master, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or
else he will hold to the one and despise the other. And let's
just put a name on it. You want to be honest about who
your master is? It's either God or money. It's
either God or the things of this world. It's either God or you.
You know why money is valuable? Because of what it can do for
you. You're the rival God in your own heart. There is no rival
to the true God, but in your heart there may be. And it's
you. You'll either serve Him or you'll
serve yourself by looking for money, mammon, the things of
this world, gain, prosperity. You won't serve both. You may
think you can. You may try. You may give it
a shot. But nobody's ever been able to do it. And the Lord Jesus
Christ said you can't do it. All right? You can't serve God
and mammon. Therefore, I say unto you, forget
about mammon. Did you see that? You see the
context of this? Take no thought for your life.
Don't serve mammon, in other words. Serve God and forget about
worrying about a little bit nicer clothes and a little bit nicer
car and all the things that are just running the rat race, climbing
the ladder. Forget about that. Take no thought
for your life what you shall eat. If you've got a little cornbread
and beans on the table, thank God for it. Or what you shall
drink, don't worry about that stuff. Nor yet for your body
what you shall put on. Do you realize that most people,
folks that don't know God, that's all they ever think about is
eating and what they're going to wear and what they drive and
its status in this world. That's what it's all about. Nor
yet for your body what you shall put on. Is not the life more
than meat and the body more than raiment? Behold the fowls of
the air, they're prettier than you are and they don't have a
job. Why? Because God takes care of them.
That doesn't mean be irresponsible and be... Paul, I believe it
was Paul that said somebody that won't work and provide for their
families worse than an infidel. That's not what he's saying here.
Not be irresponsible. Don't let it be your God. Oh,
I've seen that. I've been there. I've seen it
in a mirror. Let me say it that way. The fowls
of the air, they don't sow or reap. They didn't till their
garden today. They just go get what the Lord
left for them on the ground. Neither gather in the barns.
They don't say like that rich man, oh, look at my barns. They're
just busting out. I'm going to have to tear these
down and build bigger ones. Look at all the stuff I got. I'm going
to eat, drink, and be merry. And the Lord Jesus said, you're
a fool. You're a fool. Your God is what
you have. Your God is yourself. Yet your
Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than
they? If you're His, you are. Which of you, by taking thought,
can add one cubit to His stature?" Now, people talk about that being
physically, you know, you can't make yourself taller. Let me
tell you something. By taking thought, you can't add anything
to yourself, period. Not a penny, not an inch to your
height, not an ounce of strength, No ability, no nothing. Do you think the Lord Jesus was
exaggerating when He said, without me you can do nothing? God said the silver is mine and
the gold is mine. If He gave you a little bit of
it, you better thank Him for it. And don't say, well, I'm
ambitious and hard-working. Well, you may be, but everything
you have came from God. Everything. You can't by taking
thought, you can't by saying, I'm gonna succeed in this world."
You can't add anything to yourself like that. I'm telling you now,
it's God's gift. There's people that work a lot
harder than others that don't have two beans to rub together
hardly. Why not? The Lord gives the kingdom
to whom He will. He raises up one, puts down another.
He gives it to whom He will. And again, that doesn't mean
be and be a slugger and sit back and say, well, the Lord will
just give me stuff. It don't work like that. That's not what
he's talking about. Don't let it be your God. Don't
live for ambition and gain and prosperity. And why take ye thought
for raiment? Look at the lilies of the field,
how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin. And yet
I say unto you that even Solomon in all of his glory You reckon
there ever been anybody richer than Solomon? He wasn't near
as pretty as that lily that God made. He was not arrayed like
one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothed
the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast
into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little
faith? Work hard. Strive. Be ambitious
in the right way. But thank God for every penny
you have, every luxury you have. And realize that they're His
to give. They're His to give. And worship Him and not the things
that He gives. Are we stupid enough to worship
stuff? Oh, you better believe it. You better believe it. Therefore,
take no thought saying, what shall we eat or what shall we
drink or wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these
things do the Gentiles seek You know who the Gentiles represented
at this time? The godless. Those who are without
God, without hope in this world. Outcasts from the commonwealth
of Israel. You reckon God knows what you
need? Your Heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these
things. He knows you've got to eat, doesn't He? He knows you've
got to have something to wear. Because of the curse, you know,
you need something to put on. He'll give it to you. Ah, but
here's where we're going. But seek. Here's what you seek. Not those things. Enjoy what
the Lord gives you. But don't seek them. Don't seek
that. Don't crave the things of this world. Here's what you
crave. The Kingdom of God and His righteousness. And He'll give you all the stuff
you need. Seek. Seek. What seek ye? What do you
require? What do you crave? King David
told us what he craved, ending in Psalm 27, for one thing have
I desired of the Lord. Whatever it is that you do desire,
you're going to have to get it from Him, aren't you? One thing
have I desired of the Lord, and that will I seek after, David
said. I'm going to crave this. I'm going to strive for it. I'm
going to pursue it as long as God gives me breath, that I may
dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. However
long that is, I want to be where He is. What's the house of the
Lord where He lives? Where do you live, Lord? Where
do you live? That's where I want to be, David
said. Why, David? To behold the beauty of the Lord. Is that good enough for you?
Or do you need the beauty of the Lord and a fancy house and
car? We enjoy what we have, don't
we? You understand what I mean by that. But the beauty of the
Lord doesn't count for much with most people. You know it. But
David said, that's what I'm seeking after. This one thing. I just
want to be able to behold His beauty. If He would just reveal
Himself to me, then everything is more beautiful in His light.
That I may behold the beauty of the Lord and inquire in His
temple. When I need to know something,
I want to ask God. One thing. What do you seek,
Paul? Yea, doubtless, and I count all
things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus
my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things. I lost
all my mammon, all the people that looked up to me, all the
respect that I had for men. It's gone. Do you miss it, Paul? Not a bit. I count it, but dumb. My heritage, everything that
meant something to me before God, My heritage, my righteousness,
gone. Do you miss it? No, I'm glad
it's gone. I count it but dumb that I may
win Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness.
I wouldn't take it back if you offered it to me, which is of
the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness
which is of God by faith. That's the righteousness I'm
interested in, His righteousness. that I may know Him." What are
you seeking, Paul? Oh, if I could just know Him
and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings
being made conformable unto His death. If by any means I might
attain, I crave it. If by any means I might attain
unto the resurrection of the dead, I want to be with Him. I want to know Him. And I want
Him to get me out of the grave and bring me to be with Him forever.
That's what I want. Well, what other things are there
where Christ sits? Well, let me ask you this. When
we sit there with Him, what will occupy our desire then? I'll
tell you this. I'll tell you what people are
seeking where Christ sits. Nothing else but His glory. Where
He's sitting right now, everybody there is interested in His glory.
Our brother read that the other day. Worthy is the Lamb that
was slain to receive power and honor and blessing and strength
and wisdom. Worthy is the Lamb. Do you seek
that now? When you're sitting with Him,
you will. And if you will then, you do
now. Isn't that what Paul said? I believe he said it this way,
to whom be glory both now and forever. If you glorify Him now,
if you're interested in His glory now, you will be then. If you're
not now, you won't be then. You won't be then. Where Christ
sits, they're interested in one thing. Paul said, right now,
while we walk this earth, 1 Corinthians 10.31, whether you therefore
eat or drink, you remember the context of this. He said that
the righteousness of God is not in meat and drink. It doesn't
matter what you eat or what you don't eat. Here's what does matter. Whether you eat or drink, whatever
you eat or drink, do it with this one thought in mind, glorifying
Christ. Do all to the glory of God. Well, what else are we to seek?
Where Christ is now on the right hand of God, the Father, what
is His will? What is the will of Christ? When
He was here like we are now, what did He seek? What did He
seek while He was here as my representative? The Father's
will and to do His work. He said in John 20, 21, As my
Father hath sent me, even so send I you. He told His disciples,
My need is to do the will of Him that sent me and to finish
His work. His will and His work. That's what He sought while He
was here. And He said again, As the Father sent me, I send
you. What do you seek? Do you give
much thought to what His will is as you walk through this world?
Do I? As we conduct our business in
this earth, whatever that is, do we give much time and effort
to the work that He's given us to do? This is what Paul is exhorting
us to. Seek, demand, require, crave
the things of Christ. If you be risen with Him, If
when you went in there under that water and came back up,
if that meant something, if there was something on the inside that
you were just showing by that outward deed, then seek those
things. Seek those things. One final
thing that we're to seek, and let me go to verse 2. When I think of what Paul said
here, where Christ sitteth, where Christ sits. Seek those things
which are above where Christ sits. What do you seek with regard
to where Christ sits? Well, I'm pretty sure you probably
seek the same thing I do. I seek to sit there with Him.
Don't you? I want to be there. I want to
be there where He is. That's what Paul said, now, if
by any means I might attain unto that the resurrection of the
dead. When He rose, He went and sat
down at the right hand of the Father. And that's why Paul is
saying, I want to attain unto that resurrection, because I
want to go where He is. How about you? We desire the
same thing He desires. He desires that too. John 17,
24, Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given Me
be with Me where I am. I crave that too, don't you?
That they may behold My glory which thou hast given me for
thou lovest me before the foundation of the world." What do you crave?
Verse 2, set your affection on things above, not on things on
the earth. Now, these things here, there's
the word things again. It's the same things. The things
haven't changed. There's just two thoughts added
here in this verse. Affection. Affection. And then
the second thing that's added here is the negative aspect of
it. Not on things on this earth. Not on those. And so let's look
at those two things. Wherever your treasure is, what
you crave, that's your treasure. The Lord said that's where your
heart will be. And that's what Paul is saying here, your affection.
Set your heart. Set your heart on things above.
And whatever you seek, Whatever you treasure, whatever you crave,
whatever you long for, that's where your heart will be. I guarantee
it. The Lord Jesus spoke it. And then this word affection
also, it includes the mind. Think on these things, Paul said.
Whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are of good rapport, think on these things. Let your mind
be on the things of God, the truth of God, the Spirit of God,
the fruit of the Spirit. Unbelievers mind earthly things. And I didn't make up that language. Turn to Philippians 3, and let's
look at that together. They mind the things of this
earth. While you're turning over there,
I'll give you the original Greek for that word, affection. It
means to direct one's mind to a thing, to seek, to strive for,
to strive for. Now listen to Philippians 3.18,
the same word is used here. It's translated in another way. Philippians 3.18, For many walk,
of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping,
that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. Sometimes,
you know, there are enemies that just make us mad. But then sometimes
we find some to be enemies, and it breaks our heart. It breaks
your heart, doesn't it? They have your own household.
He said they'll be your enemy. You know why? Because if they're
His enemy, they're your enemy, if you're His. Isn't that right?
He said, I tell you with tears in my eyes, they're the enemies
of the cross. Paul said, God forbid that I
should glory save in the cross. of our Lord Jesus Christ. And
they're the enemies of that crop, whose end is destruction, whose
God is their belly. There it is again. The belly
is the appetite, the lust, not just what we think of physical,
you know, lust, but the lust for power, money, promotion,
the favor of the world, and all those things. That's what the
belly represents. Their God is their belly, their
self. and whose glory is in their shame."
Look at that next phrase, who mind earthly things. You see
how grave this is, what it's talking about? Set your affection
on things above. If you're earthly minded, it's
because you're the enemy of the cross of Christ. For our conversation
is in heaven from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ. They're looking for the things
of this earth that we're looking for Him. Is that what he said?
And this is why Paul warns here by adding the negative aspect
of this in verse 2. Not on things on the earth. Because
don't be set on those things. Don't set your affection on those
things because to do so is destruction. The end is destruction. Your
glory is your shame. Your God is yourself. Your own
appetites. Religion likes to talk about
worldly Christians. Have you ever heard that phrase
before? Talk about worldly Christians. There ain't no such animal. You
know why they like to invent that? Because it gives them an
out. They can hate Christ and still go to heaven when they
die. There's not any such thing. You're going to serve Him or
you're going to serve yourself. And there ain't no in-between.
To believers, Christ is heaven. People talk about, I want to
go to heaven when I die. but have no interest in Christ.
Christ is heaven. Religious people are more interested
in heaven, what they consider to be heaven, than Christ. But to a believer, there is no
heaven without him. Heaven is to depart and be with
him. We'll look at verse 3, for you
are dead. You didn't know you was dead,
did you? Well, you used to be dead. No, you're still dead,
in a different sense. And your life is hid with Christ
in God. You talk about a wonderful thing.
If the Lord could give me something to say here, if He'd give me
a heart to say this right. Now this is another wave of Paul's
argument here. You're dead. Don't set your affection
on things of this world because you're dead to the world. You
see the context there? How can you love something that
you're dead to? Paul said in Galatians 6.14, God forbid that
I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom
this world is crucified unto me, and I'm crucified unto it. A dead man doesn't have any interest
in the affairs of this world. Men and women busy themselves
about their business in this world, making money and climbing
that ladder, you know, and running that rat race, and they drive
past the cemetery. And dead men don't turn their
heads and see what they're up to. They got no interest in it. And I'll tell you this, by God's
grace, and I mean by God's grace, I have about as much interest
in what this world is interested in as a dead man does. I'm honest
with you about that. I've got no use for their religion.
I've got no desire for the approval of this world. I've got no interest
in the business of this world. We have to conduct business with
this world, but not for the same reasons and not in the same way.
I'm telling you, we're dead to this world. Believers are dead.
And then our life is hid. Our life is hid. The word is
concealed. And then this is an interesting
definition that I enjoyed. It means this, it escapes notice. Our life escapes notice. There
are several wonderful truths suggested by this. Let me give
you three real quickly. The world doesn't know anything
of our life, first of all. It escapes their notice in the
sense that they don't understand it. Our life is spiritual, spiritual
life. Our kingdom is Christ's kingdom,
and he said my kingdom is not of this world. We're not understood
by this world. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2
15, he that is spiritual judgeth all things, discerneth all things,
all the truth of the gospel, the things that God has revealed
concerning himself and his son and ourselves and how God can
be just and justify. He that's spiritual discerneth
all things, yet he himself is discerned of no man. The world
has no idea what you are, who you are, or why. None. And then
secondly, this is a judgment upon this world. Our life is
hidden. From Luke 10, 21, in that hour,
Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said, I thank Thee, O Father,
Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast hid these things. These
things. Seek those things. They're hidden
from the wise and prudent, but they're revealed to babies, and
those babies seek them. Even so, Father, for so it seemed
good in Yourself. We wouldn't have done it that
way, would we? We would have rewarded the wise and prudent,
and we would have hid them from the poor and the base and the
vile. He don't do things the way we
do. And then think of it this way. Our life is safe with Christ.
It's hid. That which is concealed is safe
from those who would plunder, who would rob. He said, where
you're going, thieves don't break through and steal. And what I
give you can't be taken away from you. Not as this world giveth,
give I unto you. Oh, our life is hid. It's safe
in Him. You can affect my natural life
in many ways, but the life that I have in Christ can't be touched.
And if I be destitute in this world, I'm no less blessed with
all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Your life is hid. Where is it
hid? With Christ. I can tell you where
it's hid because though you know, it's still hid. If you hide something,
you know, in an earthly sense, if you tell somebody where it's
hid, then the hiding place is useless. You've got to hide it
somewhere else, don't you? No, I can tell you openly where
my life is hid. Even though the world knows where
my life is, it's still hid from them in plain sight, safe. What is this life that is hid
with Christ? is hid with Christ. What is this
life? Look at verse 4. When Christ who is our life, our life is hid with Him and
He is our life. He is our life. And what a motivation
Paul presents here for living unto Christ, for seeking His
things. Seeking His things. When Christ
who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with
Him in glory. That's one of the things I said
we're seeking, wasn't it? Don't you seek that? I want to
be with Him. Oh, my goodness. What is this life to you, this
earthly existence? What is your goal? People talk
about, I have a goal, I have goals established. What's yours?
What are your dreams? Do they have to do with this
world and things that are going to burn up when He comes back? Then let me say in the kindest
way I possibly can, you're a fool. You're a fool. If your dreams
consist of things of this world, you are a fool. The Lord Jesus,
that's what He said to that rich man, thou fool, you glory in
your stuff and you're an idiot. You're an idiot. What is it you
truly seek after? What do you crave? Two words,
with Him. With Him. That's what He said
here. Then shall you also appear with
Him. The Lord Jesus Christ is our
life. He's our glory. He's our heaven.
He's our all. He's our all. That's why Paul
said there in the beginning of this chapter, you're complete
in Him. To be with Him, it don't get better than that. Christ
is all and in all. We preach Christ and Him crucified. Why? Because He's all. He's our
life. He's our glory. He's our heaven. Paul said, I determined. I determined. I made up my mind by God's grace
and set about to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and
Him crucified. Let's bow in prayer. Lord, thank
You for the encouragement that we have in Your Word. What a
glorious Redeemer we have. What a wonderful Savior. To get
a glimpse of Him is to be refreshed, to rejoice. Thank You for the
truth. Thank You for the Lord Jesus
and what He is, who He is to us, and what He's done for us.
Bless us in Him, Lord, reveal. Give us this desire that Paul
had just to know Him, that we might know Him, that we might
attain unto that resurrection, that we might go and be with
Him where He is. May this be what we crave as we go through
this life, and let everything else just be nothing. Just things to be used for your
glory. Let us not be ungrateful, Lord,
for the things that you give us in this world, but may we
use them for your glory, if you'd give us grace to do that. Even
the smallest of things, the least of things that we have, let them
be used for your glory. And as we live what we call this
life. May our life consist not in the
things of this world, but may we every step seek those things
which are above where the Lord Jesus sits. And glory in Him
as we go. In His precious name we ask it.
Amen. Amen. Well, I hope that was a
blessing to you. That blessed my heart. Sometimes we need to be reminded
what reality is, don't we? Sometimes we think, you know,
we come here and we hear the things of God and we worship
the Lord Jesus and we rejoice in Him and everything is so wonderful
and then it's back to reality. No, this is the reality. That's
the mirage. This is back to reality when
we come up here, isn't it? We get to see what's real, what
matters, the Lord Jesus and His glory. And more and more it's
valuable to me to do that with you. I appreciate you all very
much. You don't know how, can I use
the word proud? I believe Paul did when folks
come here and say what a wonderful group this is. Not that I have
anything to do with it, I'm just proud to be with you, to be part
of it. And I hope you know what I mean by that. I'm proud of
you and I believe in the right way. I rejoice with you and thank
God for you.