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 (KJV)

Verse 1:

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

This verse speaks of surrender. We are risen with Christ because we are surrendered to Him, making Jesus the Lord of our lives. As a result, we are seated with Him in heavenly places. We are to rule and reign with Him from our seated position with Him.

Verse 2:

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

We are to seek , aim, go after and pursue heavenly things. We are to make it our lifestyle to align ourselves with heaven’s agenda. We are to think and focus on things of heaven more than those of earth. We are do things the way it is done in heaven. In heaven, they love and enjoy God and one another. There is no defeat, sin, sickness, or lack in heaven. We are to seek to live like they do in heaven and not pursue the low-level pleasures of earthly, sensual people. We can enjoy life without sinning.

Verse 3:

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

As we surrender to Christ, seeking to be like Him and live like Him, we will set our minds on Him. The more we think OF Christ, the more we will think LIKE Christ. We will fix our eyes on, focus on, and purposely and actively think on Him. Then, our thoughts will line up with the mind of God. When we do, we become dead to sin and alive to God. With the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit established in our lives, nothing can edge God out of our lives. In essence, our lives are hid with Christ in God. God becomes our hiding place and we live in the secret place of His presence.

Verse 4:

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Verse 4 tells us the results and rewards of surrendering to Christ, seeking Him, and setting our minds on Him. As we do so, we will be established kingdom values, which will lead us in life to walk like Christ. As we do, we are prepared for Jesus Christ to appear and rapture us to heaven. When we do, we will see Him face-to- face. For the present time, we focus our hearts and minds on Christ and on heaven, and one day soon we will see the manifestation as we are taken to heaven to be with our Lord and Savior forever.