A word of exhortation

Dear friends:

While meditating on the Word this morning, the Holy Sprit impressed me with this Scripture, and then gave me a word of exhortation:

"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.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:1-4).

(I used the KJV wording because these verses were made into a Scripture song back in the 1970s and it is the way I memorized it.    Thank God for the move of the Spirit in the 1970s and the many Scripture songs and resultant memorization of the Word, causing the Word to stick in our spirits.)

The exhortation is this:   The Internet is awash with e-mails and Web postings about the evil in the earth, what the devil is doing, and about various diabolical conspiracies, real and unreal, to do us all in.  I have contributed to that.   It's okay to watch these things as signs to some degree, and I will continue to do so as the Lord leads.  But let us not get too caught up in them or get out of balance. 

Instead, God wants us to "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."   Where Christ sits at the right hand of God is the place of His peace, power and promises.  Sitting our affections on the things going on in this world brings lack of peace, fear and apprehension, and missing His promises.  That is not God's will for us.  He wants us to live ABOVE that -- in the heavenlies.   "... for ye (we) are dead, and your (our) life is hid with Christ in God."  We are already dead to the things of this world.  This world system is perishing.  It is in is last throes.  Let us not spend too much time thinking about that which is already dead.  When we realize we are "seated with Him" (Ephesians 2:6), and act like it, this world takes on a different perspective.

Let that last verse be your encouragement: "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."  That is what Paul referred to in Titus 2:13: "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."  Paul said to look for the appearing of the Christ, not the antichrist.

He's coming.  He will appear.  And we shall appear with Him.  "And the things of this world shall grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."

Have a nice day, and God bless you,

Jim