“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).
In the epistle James wrote the Holy Spirit instructs that a double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways.
The days in which we live are hallmarked by instability. If you look all around you, I’m sure you’ll agree. It seems nobody can make up their mind, from corporate operations to personal beliefs! The ‘winds’ of popular opinion blow and drive lives from one extreme to another. In their wake the result of instability causes shipwreck, destroying lives. Men and women divide households by this plague and long-time businesses have folded.
Church’s dissolve because their members divide over varying doctrinal opinions. We no longer see the ‘Black-and-White’ of scripture. The Word of God has to line up with what’s considered to be politically correct. We fail to understand that there’s a curse attached to the altering of God’s Word! “Every Word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His Words, lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:5-6). Two of the last four verses in the Word of God speak of the curse to expect when you add to or take from His Words (read Revelation 22:18-19)!
Who’s programming you?
Our opening scripture tells us to set our minds on things above and not on things of this earth, indicating the two arenas of influence our minds receive their programming from.
To receive the world’s instruction—do nothing but go with the flow around you! The fruit though will be bitterness, envy, self-seeking, confusion and every evil thing. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17). Wow! That’s powerful! So, one who is envious, self-seeking and a hypocrite is confused and full of evil? According to the Book, yes.
There is hope
We can change! One of the greatest aspects of the gospel is God makes available to mankind His thoughts and ways of doing things, and He’s extremely successful! He said: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways…for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God (and) we have the mind of Christ” (compilation of 1Corinthians 1:30 & 2:16).
We see the contrast here, God’s thoughts and ways vs. man’s. You may ask, “If we have the mind of Christ, then why aren’t we thinking like God thinks?” The answer in simple, we have to renew our minds with the Word of God. “…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2a). The word transformed comes from the same Greek word we get metamorphosis from, which means a complete change.
Christ’s followers
The intended process of Christianity is to become like Jesus. First we’re made a new creature inside, then we change on the outside to be like Him. This is done by renewing the mind. That’s why Paul instructed the church at Colosse to set their minds on things above. He knew of the pull this world-system would have on them (and us!). To have your mind set means to place or position it in an unmovable posture; in, by and with the Word of God! The solid Rock! Jesus!
To have heaven’s success, you have to think like heaven! As a man thinks, so does he become!
The desire of all nations
The prophecy of scripture declares that Jesus is the desire of all nations and that we are His body. He’s the head and we’re the rest of His body, His feet, arms and so on. Scripture also reveals all of creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now! Why? Waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God, the Body of Christ in her fullness (see Romans 8:22 & 19)! How will it be accomplished? By the renewing of our minds to think like God thinks! Setting our minds on things above! The unchangeable Word of God is the only source of stability available!
Jesus is coming soon! In order to have a lifestyle that will welcome His return we’ll have to set our minds on Him, His ways and desires. Everything else is evil!