Set Your Mind on Things Above

Colossians 3:1-4
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As we conclude the series, the question we now face is how to continually keep our minds on heavenly things so that these teachings are ingrained in our daily lives. How can we nourish our souls with the hope of our future life with Jesus Christ?

The notion that those who are spiritually minded are of no earthly use is incorrect. Only when your mind is set on heaven can you truly know how to live on earth and prepare for what lies ahead. Knowing the future helps us live our lives meaningfully now.

Today’s simple text from Colossians 3:2 instructs us to “set your minds on things that are above.” This was the motto of the theological college I attended in London, making it a special verse for me.

Paul begins with the theme of resurrection, stating that since we’ve been raised with Christ, we have new life in Him. This new life should lead us to set our minds on heavenly things.

Understanding our future in heaven will change our perspective on earthly life, including our view on money and material possessions. It will also give us strength to endure trials and motivate us towards holiness.

Reflecting on heaven can shift how we view our material possessions. It is not about accumulating earthly treasures but investing in heavenly ones. The joys of this world should propel us towards our eternal home, not anchor us here.

1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:06,480 well today is the last message in the series that we’ve called the inside story of your future life 2 00:00:07,280 –> 00:00:13,360 many of you have commented or have written notes to say that you have found this series to be 3 00:00:13,360 –> 00:00:20,400 helpful i have to tell you it has been a blessing in my own soul just to spend this time thinking 4 00:00:20,400 –> 00:00:26,160 about future life and trying to fill my mind and heart with these marvelous marvelous truths from 5 00:00:26,160 –> 00:00:33,200 the Bible what we’ve been doing is over these last weeks is being intentional about setting 6 00:00:33,200 –> 00:00:37,919 our minds on the things that are above that’s what we’ve done we’ve thought about heaven 7 00:00:38,639 –> 00:00:43,759 we have filled our minds with what it will mean to be with Jesus Christ and why that is better by 8 00:00:43,759 –> 00:00:48,240 far and many of us have found over these weeks that this has been good for our souls that it 9 00:00:48,240 –> 00:00:54,080 has nourished us that it has lifted us in some way and that it has been helpful to us and so 10 00:00:54,080 –> 00:00:58,799 as we come to the end of the series i think the question before us today is how can i now 11 00:00:59,680 –> 00:01:05,120 keep my mind on the things that are above so that this is not simply a series of sermons but 12 00:01:05,120 –> 00:01:11,919 but that something is built into our lives on an ongoing basis in regard to these things how 13 00:01:11,919 –> 00:01:19,440 can you continue to nourish your own soul with the hope and with the joy of your future life 14 00:01:19,680 –> 00:01:28,160 Jesus Christ now we’ve all heard the cheap shot that you know people who are heavenly minded 15 00:01:28,160 –> 00:01:35,680 are no earthly use everyone’s heard that right precisely the opposite is true precisely the 16 00:01:35,680 –> 00:01:41,360 opposite is true only when you know the things that are to come only when your mind is fixed 17 00:01:41,540 –> 00:01:50,160 heaven do you know how to live on earth see if I was to say to you today prepare 18 00:01:50,720 –> 00:01:56,480 you would say well that’s a meaningless statement prepare for what prepare for snow prepare for exam 19 00:01:56,480 –> 00:02:00,000 prepare for guess I mean what does that mean how can I prepare if you don’t tell me what to 20 00:02:00,000 –> 00:02:05,839 prepare for it’s meaningless to say prepare you have to know what lies ahead in order to know 21 00:02:05,839 –> 00:02:13,119 how you are to live now in order to prepare for it and it is only when you set your mind on 22 00:02:13,119 –> 00:02:19,199 heaven that you will know how to live on earth it will only be when you know what is coming that you 23 00:02:19,199 –> 00:02:25,600 know how to live your life this week and so today we have this very simple text from Colossians in 24 00:02:25,600 –> 00:02:33,600 chapter 3 and verse 2 set your minds on things that are above it’s a special text for me 25 00:02:33,600 –> 00:02:40,720 personally this was the motto text of the school where I studied theology in London those years 26 00:02:40,720 –> 00:02:49,600 ago. Ta anofroniti, set your minds on things above. So I hope you will have your bible open 27 00:02:49,600 –> 00:02:56,399 at Colossians in chapter 3 as we’re going to look today at why we would do that and how we can go 28 00:02:56,399 –> 00:03:02,639 about it. Now you notice that the Paul begins with the great theme of the resurrection that 29 00:03:02,639 –> 00:03:09,119 Christ has been raised. When Jesus died we saw that the death is the separation of the soul 30 00:03:09,119 –> 00:03:16,880 and the body. And when Jesus died his life left his body his body was laid in the tomb. In fact 31 00:03:16,880 –> 00:03:22,080 it had to be laid in the tomb by other people because there was no life in it. But here is the 32 00:03:22,080 –> 00:03:28,880 good news of the gospel on the third day the life of the son of God came into his body. And he rose 33 00:03:28,880 –> 00:03:34,960 and the body of Jesus was wonderfully changed. And what we read in verse one of Colossians 3 34 00:03:34,960 –> 00:03:40,080 is that if you are a Christian this is what has happened to you. The life of the son of God has 35 00:03:40,080 –> 00:03:46,240 come into your body you have been raised with Christ, verse one. Remember we saw earlier 36 00:03:46,240 –> 00:03:52,160 in this series that by nature we are all dead towards God. The bible says deaf towards the 37 00:03:52,160 –> 00:03:58,080 spirit we are like that corpse we’re not able to get up and live a life of faith and obedience to 38 00:03:58,080 –> 00:04:02,479 Jesus Christ. What has happened to make you a Christian then? Well the holy spirit has 39 00:04:02,479 –> 00:04:08,160 given you the kiss of life. He’s brought the life of the son of God to you. You have been 40 00:04:08,160 –> 00:04:13,839 raised with Jesus Christ and because you’re raised with Jesus Christ that’s why you are a new 41 00:04:13,839 –> 00:04:18,559 creation. If you’re a Christian you have new life in him and everything that Jesus accomplished 42 00:04:18,559 –> 00:04:24,160 at the cross now belongs to you. So you have forgiveness in him you have new life in him 43 00:04:24,160 –> 00:04:29,200 the holy spirit is given to you in him. You’re adopted into the loving family of God 44 00:04:29,200 –> 00:04:35,519 through him and heaven itself is yours because of him. Now since all of this is true if you really 45 00:04:35,519 –> 00:04:40,720 are a Christian what Paul says verse two is here’s what you must do in the light of this new life 46 00:04:41,279 –> 00:04:50,320 set your minds on things that are above. Now folks there really isn’t anything particularly 47 00:04:50,320 –> 00:04:57,440 difficult to understand here where we need help is in putting it into practice. How do I do this? 48 00:04:58,399 –> 00:05:03,519 So I want to attempt two things today. The first is to for us to see clearly the value 49 00:05:04,239 –> 00:05:10,000 of meditating on your future life, setting your mind on things that are above how it will change 50 00:05:10,000 –> 00:05:17,040 you if you do this and then secondly to offer some practical help on how you might go about it. 51 00:05:17,040 –> 00:05:23,679 Set your minds on things that are above. Well, let’s begin then with the value. 52 00:05:23,679 –> 00:05:28,480 What’s this going to do for you if you make this the pattern of your life? And three observations, 53 00:05:29,600 –> 00:05:36,239 the first is that meditating on your future life will change your view of money, 54 00:05:37,279 –> 00:05:43,279 in fact it will change your entire relationship to this material world and how you view it. 55 00:05:44,239 –> 00:05:49,920 And notice what he says here, set your mind on things above and not on earthly things. 56 00:05:49,920 –> 00:05:56,079 So there’s a contrast here, there’s a movement here of being weaned away from being consumed 57 00:05:56,079 –> 00:06:03,440 with life in this world as we set our minds on things above. And particularly I use the word 58 00:06:03,440 –> 00:06:10,320 money because it’s very striking whenever Jesus speaks about heaven, it’s not long until he says 59 00:06:10,320 –> 00:06:16,640 something particularly about money. These things come again and again, together. And thinking, 60 00:06:16,640 –> 00:06:23,279 for example, of Luke and Chapter 12, when Jesus was teaching and a man in the crowd asked a 61 00:06:23,279 –> 00:06:31,119 question, he said, Jesus, would you tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me. 62 00:06:32,000 –> 00:06:36,880 So here’s one of these – it seems endless – family disputes over inheritance money. 63 00:06:37,519 –> 00:06:41,440 And one brother seems to have got perhaps or kept more than should have been his, 64 00:06:41,440 –> 00:06:44,079 and the other brother feels that he hasn’t got what was his right. 65 00:06:45,279 –> 00:06:50,000 And this man wants Jesus to intervene. Can you help me get my rights? 66 00:06:52,160 –> 00:06:57,040 And Jesus’ answer is fascinating. He says, Who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you? 67 00:06:58,320 –> 00:07:02,079 Fascinating. Jesus says, in effect, Luke, that’s not why I’m here. 68 00:07:03,040 –> 00:07:08,799 And then Jesus goes on to speak about why he is here. He said, Take care and be on your 69 00:07:08,799 –> 00:07:15,359 guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions. 70 00:07:16,640 –> 00:07:19,920 You cannot measure your life with what you have. That’s what Jesus is saying. 71 00:07:21,279 –> 00:07:25,920 Then he told a story about a man who had been blessed in his business. 72 00:07:26,480 –> 00:07:32,480 And this man had gathered a bumper crop from his fields and he had stored this crop into barns. 73 00:07:33,839 –> 00:07:37,279 Now, not so many of us are farmers here in the Northwest suburbs. 74 00:07:38,559 –> 00:07:44,959 How does this translate for us? Let me put it to you this way, this man had a healthy 401k. 75 00:07:47,279 –> 00:07:51,920 How much money do you need to retire? I don’t know. There’s the everlasting question, right? 76 00:07:52,000 –> 00:07:57,440 But this man was in a position where he could. He said, I’ve brought in this harvest and now I’m in 77 00:07:57,440 –> 00:08:03,440 a position where I’m able to pursue the life that I have long dreamed of. Now I can enjoy my 78 00:08:03,440 –> 00:08:07,760 retirement, that’s what he was saying, the man with the healthy 401k. So I like to call this 79 00:08:07,760 –> 00:08:13,040 parable the man who lived the American dream because this is the American dream, isn’t it? 80 00:08:14,000 –> 00:08:22,239 He worked hard, he saved really well, he was not profligate, really saved hard, disciplined, 81 00:08:22,880 –> 00:08:32,320 good planner. And now that he has achieved the summit of his working life, he has plans for how 82 00:08:32,320 –> 00:08:36,400 he will live the life that he has always wanted. Everything in his life has been leading towards 83 00:08:36,400 –> 00:08:42,000 this, to spend time with friends and to visit various places. And no doubt if you’ll forgive 84 00:08:42,000 –> 00:08:46,799 the cultural translation, to play on various golf courses and so forth and so on, this is the 85 00:08:46,799 –> 00:08:53,119 life that he’s always wanted. And he said, now I’ve got the 401k, I can do it. And there was 86 00:08:53,119 –> 00:09:02,159 one problem, he had not set his mind on things that are above. And on the very night where he 87 00:09:02,159 –> 00:09:10,960 was beginning to plan out what was going to happen from this point on, he died. And God said to him, 88 00:09:12,000 –> 00:09:21,119 you fool, you fool. Now, folks, all of us would like to think that when we arrive in the presence 89 00:09:21,119 –> 00:09:25,599 of God that he would say to us, well done, good and faithful servant. Don’t you want to 90 00:09:25,599 –> 00:09:32,559 hear God say that to you? What would it be like to hear almighty God say to you, 91 00:09:32,559 –> 00:09:41,039 you fool? And the reason that this man lived as a fool was that he did not set his mind on the 92 00:09:41,039 –> 00:09:48,960 things that are above. And that is the height of folly, Jesus says. To live for the things of this 93 00:09:48,960 –> 00:09:55,599 world and to neglect being rich towards God, that’s the words Jesus used. And so this is why 94 00:09:55,599 –> 00:10:02,400 he says, now, do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, but lay up for yourself 95 00:10:02,400 –> 00:10:09,200 treasure in heaven, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. In other words, 96 00:10:09,200 –> 00:10:16,559 he’s saying, the more you invest in stuff here, the more tied you’re gonna be to this world and 97 00:10:16,559 –> 00:10:20,880 to the things of this world. The more concerned you’re gonna be about it all. It’s gonna become 98 00:10:20,880 –> 00:10:28,799 more and more of your life watching your money. But he says, the more that you invest in Christ’s 99 00:10:28,799 –> 00:10:33,919 work on earth, the more you will find that your heart is tied to heaven and that’s where you wanna 100 00:10:33,919 –> 00:10:43,119 be. So learn to be rich towards God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. 101 00:10:46,559 –> 00:10:53,440 In this life, think of it this way. We are all rather like actors in a theater 102 00:10:54,559 –> 00:11:02,000 and we’re given different parts in a particular play. One gets to play the part of the prince. 103 00:11:02,640 –> 00:11:07,039 Another actor in our company gets to play the part of the pauper. 104 00:11:08,799 –> 00:11:13,520 And we put on these costumes and we play our part, but when the curtain comes down at the 105 00:11:13,520 –> 00:11:22,159 end of the play, all the actors go backstage and the costumes come off the man who played the part 106 00:11:22,159 –> 00:11:26,799 of the prince, takes off his very marvelous costume and the man who played the part of 107 00:11:26,799 –> 00:11:30,799 the man who played the part of the pauper, takes off his costume, the rags or whatever 108 00:11:30,799 –> 00:11:36,080 it was that he was wearing, and then both of these actors leave the theater by the same back door. 109 00:11:38,320 –> 00:11:44,000 What difference does it make that one of them got to play the part of the prince and the other 110 00:11:44,000 –> 00:11:49,359 one got to play the part of the pauper? When they leave the theatre they go into the real world, 111 00:11:51,200 –> 00:11:53,200 and what matters is who they are there. 112 00:11:53,840 –> 00:11:57,280 Now of course we think that this is the real world, don’t we? This is the world where we 113 00:11:57,280 –> 00:12:02,320 have sports, and this is the world where we are able to earn money, and this is the real world. 114 00:12:02,320 –> 00:12:08,159 And Jesus says, no, completely the opposite is true. Everything in this world is passing away. 115 00:12:10,320 –> 00:12:14,320 That which last is in the world which is to come. Do you believe that? 116 00:12:16,479 –> 00:12:19,359 This world is the world of shadows. This is the theater. 117 00:12:19,919 –> 00:12:24,719 This is where we’re playing our parts, but all of us are going to go out when the play is finished 118 00:12:24,719 –> 00:12:30,619 by the same back door, and we’re not going to go out in the material 119 00:12:30,619 –> 00:12:33,119 costumes of our life in this world. 120 00:12:36,559 –> 00:12:39,679 So why would you envy your brother who has more than you, 121 00:12:42,000 –> 00:12:45,599 when you know that both of you will leave this world by the same back door. 122 00:12:45,679 –> 00:12:50,119 It really doesn’t matter that he got to play the part of the prince and 123 00:12:50,119 –> 00:12:52,359 you got to play the part of the pauper. 124 00:12:53,619 –> 00:12:56,479 What matters is whether you have treasure in the real world. 125 00:12:58,020 –> 00:12:59,280 You know that’s what Jesus is talking about. 126 00:13:01,739 –> 00:13:05,280 Now, this picture has been immensely helpful to me. 127 00:13:05,280 –> 00:13:10,280 Meditating on your future life will change your view of money, how you think 128 00:13:10,280 –> 00:13:11,679 about it, what you think you need. 129 00:13:11,679 –> 00:13:14,080 What you think is the best thing to do to deal with what you’ve got. 130 00:13:16,440 –> 00:13:20,960 Set your minds on things that are about. 131 00:13:24,000 –> 00:13:28,039 Second, meditating on your future life will 132 00:13:28,039 –> 00:13:33,020 give you strength to endure the great trials of your life. 133 00:13:33,020 –> 00:13:34,380 Give you strength to endure. 134 00:13:34,380 –> 00:13:39,940 Think about this, we’re going to come around the Lord’s table this morning, 135 00:13:39,940 –> 00:13:43,659 how did Jesus endure the agonies of the cross? 136 00:13:44,520 –> 00:13:48,840 You think of what it meant for him to hang there? 137 00:13:48,840 –> 00:13:51,700 How do you do that? 138 00:13:51,700 –> 00:13:54,840 How do you do that? 139 00:13:54,840 –> 00:14:00,719 And the New Testament tells us, Hebrews 12, and verse 2, 140 00:14:00,719 –> 00:14:08,280 that Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before him. 141 00:14:08,280 –> 00:14:11,239 In other words, when Jesus was going through the 142 00:14:11,239 –> 00:14:14,440 unspeakable agonies of the cross, here’s what he did, 143 00:14:14,440 –> 00:14:17,340 he set his mind on things above. 144 00:14:17,340 –> 00:14:18,340 That’s how he endured. 145 00:14:18,340 –> 00:14:21,039 That’s how he got through that. 146 00:14:21,039 –> 00:14:23,900 That’s what Hebrews 12, and verse, tells us. 147 00:14:23,900 –> 00:14:26,760 And that same passage says, now, this is what we must do. 148 00:14:26,760 –> 00:14:30,020 We must fix our eyes on Jesus, the one who is the beginning 149 00:14:30,020 –> 00:14:32,400 and the ending of our faith. 150 00:14:32,400 –> 00:14:35,820 He got through the cross by fixing his eye on 151 00:14:35,820 –> 00:14:37,820 the joy that was before him. 152 00:14:37,820 –> 00:14:40,580 We must now do the same, so that we can run 153 00:14:40,619 –> 00:14:45,440 the race with perseverance that is marked out for us also. 154 00:14:47,700 –> 00:14:51,039 You endure the difficulties that you have now 155 00:14:51,039 –> 00:14:54,299 by fixing your eye, your mind, your heart, 156 00:14:54,299 –> 00:14:57,299 your faith on that which is to come. 157 00:14:58,900 –> 00:15:01,840 Last time Karin and I were in the U.K., 158 00:15:01,840 –> 00:15:04,979 we had an experience that I guess every person 159 00:15:04,979 –> 00:15:08,260 in this congregation today will also have had. 160 00:15:08,260 –> 00:15:10,739 We had a long journey from where her folks are 161 00:15:10,739 –> 00:15:13,739 to where my folks are, and we decided that 162 00:15:13,739 –> 00:15:16,140 the way it was working, we would stop for a night 163 00:15:16,140 –> 00:15:18,520 in an area where we don’t normally stop 164 00:15:18,520 –> 00:15:20,840 and didn’t have other members of family. 165 00:15:20,840 –> 00:15:24,299 And so I checked on the internet 166 00:15:24,299 –> 00:15:26,780 and found a place that looked like it would be okay 167 00:15:26,780 –> 00:15:30,719 and had got one of these internet-only 168 00:15:30,719 –> 00:15:32,679 prepaid reservations 169 00:15:32,679 –> 00:15:35,979 for a room for the two of us for the night. 170 00:15:35,979 –> 00:15:37,299 And I thought it was going to be okay, 171 00:15:37,299 –> 00:15:39,679 but when we arrived, it was terrible. 172 00:15:39,679 –> 00:15:40,799 It was terrible. 173 00:15:40,799 –> 00:15:43,219 I mean, this place might have been okay 174 00:15:43,219 –> 00:15:45,340 in the early 1960s. 175 00:15:45,340 –> 00:15:49,059 But I’ll tell you, nothing much, 176 00:15:49,059 –> 00:15:50,320 not even a lick of paint, 177 00:15:50,320 –> 00:15:53,400 seem to have happened in that place since then. 178 00:15:53,400 –> 00:15:55,400 I knew we were in trouble 179 00:15:55,400 –> 00:15:57,280 the moment that we pulled off the road 180 00:15:57,280 –> 00:15:59,359 because the slip road up to this place 181 00:15:59,359 –> 00:16:01,039 seemed to be overgrown. 182 00:16:01,039 –> 00:16:02,739 I thought, that this does not look good. 183 00:16:02,739 –> 00:16:05,820 Then when we got there and we saw this place, 184 00:16:05,820 –> 00:16:09,159 the restaurant that had once done business 185 00:16:09,159 –> 00:16:10,919 in partnership had closed 186 00:16:10,919 –> 00:16:12,599 and we found that there were only 187 00:16:12,599 –> 00:16:15,159 a very few of us who had fallen for this 188 00:16:15,159 –> 00:16:17,359 on the internet, three or four rooms 189 00:16:17,359 –> 00:16:18,200 that were rented. 190 00:16:18,200 –> 00:16:20,900 The bed seem to have been like a hand down 191 00:16:20,900 –> 00:16:24,280 from a campsite as far as I could see. 192 00:16:24,280 –> 00:16:25,840 And I was not very happy about this 193 00:16:25,840 –> 00:16:26,919 because you’re trapped, aren’t you? 194 00:16:26,919 –> 00:16:30,179 I mean, it’s prepaid on the credit card. 195 00:16:30,179 –> 00:16:35,039 So you’re locked in and I look at this place. 196 00:16:35,080 –> 00:16:36,440 Paying good money for this. 197 00:16:36,440 –> 00:16:38,820 I’m walking it and going, this is terrible. 198 00:16:38,820 –> 00:16:39,659 That’s so awful. 199 00:16:39,659 –> 00:16:40,659 I mean my goodness. 200 00:16:40,659 –> 00:16:43,539 And my dear, patient, long-suffering wife 201 00:16:43,539 –> 00:16:45,700 said to me, will you just sit down? 202 00:16:45,700 –> 00:16:49,119 She said, it’s only for one night. 203 00:16:49,119 –> 00:16:54,119 It’s only for one night. 204 00:16:56,400 –> 00:16:58,419 You see that gives an entirely different perspective 205 00:16:58,419 –> 00:16:59,260 doesn’t it? 206 00:16:59,260 –> 00:17:01,039 It was exactly what I needed to hear. 207 00:17:01,940 –> 00:17:03,700 Fretting about this place. 208 00:17:04,660 –> 00:17:07,579 It’s only for one night. 209 00:17:09,319 –> 00:17:11,400 Now you see, this is precisely what we’re being taught 210 00:17:11,400 –> 00:17:13,319 in second Corinthians in chapter four 211 00:17:13,319 –> 00:17:15,560 where Paul speaks to us in verse 16 there 212 00:17:15,560 –> 00:17:17,400 about how do you keep going 213 00:17:17,400 –> 00:17:20,040 when it’s really tough and not lose heart? 214 00:17:21,000 –> 00:17:22,979 And he says here’s how we don’t lose heart, 215 00:17:22,979 –> 00:17:25,180 he says what we’re experiencing now 216 00:17:25,180 –> 00:17:27,920 is a momentary affliction. 217 00:17:27,920 –> 00:17:29,699 A momentary affliction. 218 00:17:29,699 –> 00:17:31,839 You say, well it seems to be going on a long time to me. 219 00:17:31,839 –> 00:17:33,339 Well look, in the light of eternity 220 00:17:33,380 –> 00:17:35,520 you can only describe it as momentary. 221 00:17:36,420 –> 00:17:38,939 You lift up your eyes from what’s going on around you 222 00:17:38,939 –> 00:17:40,420 and the immediate circumstances 223 00:17:40,420 –> 00:17:42,280 and the difficulties you’re facing here 224 00:17:42,280 –> 00:17:45,380 and set your mind on things above. 225 00:17:45,380 –> 00:17:48,660 And what lies ahead of you for all eternity 226 00:17:49,739 –> 00:17:51,599 and you’ll begin to view it in a different way. 227 00:17:51,599 –> 00:17:53,439 It will strengthen you for the difficulties 228 00:17:53,439 –> 00:17:55,579 that you face here because you begin to see 229 00:17:55,579 –> 00:17:57,099 that in relation to eternity 230 00:17:57,099 –> 00:17:58,859 this is a momentary affliction 231 00:18:00,040 –> 00:18:01,780 and that in it there is being worked 232 00:18:01,800 –> 00:18:03,420 in eternal weight of glory 233 00:18:03,420 –> 00:18:05,959 that is beyond all comparison and Paul says 234 00:18:05,959 –> 00:18:06,819 so this is what we do, 235 00:18:06,819 –> 00:18:08,739 we don’t look at the things that are seen, 236 00:18:08,739 –> 00:18:10,780 we look at the things that are unseen 237 00:18:10,780 –> 00:18:12,939 because the things that are seen are passing away 238 00:18:12,939 –> 00:18:15,339 and the things that are unseen are eternal. 239 00:18:15,339 –> 00:18:18,520 So that’s how we endure difficulty in the Christian life. 240 00:18:19,839 –> 00:18:21,500 So set your mind on things above, 241 00:18:21,500 –> 00:18:23,640 it will help you, it will strengthen you 242 00:18:23,640 –> 00:18:27,020 to endure the really tough stuff in your life. 243 00:18:29,140 –> 00:18:30,739 And then here’s the third thing, 244 00:18:30,739 –> 00:18:32,140 meditating on your future life 245 00:18:32,140 –> 00:18:33,520 will not only change your view of money, 246 00:18:33,520 –> 00:18:35,439 the entire material world, 247 00:18:35,439 –> 00:18:37,439 not only give you strength to endure, 248 00:18:37,439 –> 00:18:38,859 meditating on your future life 249 00:18:38,859 –> 00:18:41,099 will motivate you to holiness. 250 00:18:42,459 –> 00:18:44,619 Now whenever you want to know the significance 251 00:18:44,619 –> 00:18:46,619 of what’s being said in a part of the Bible 252 00:18:46,619 –> 00:18:50,180 it’s a good rule of thumb to look at what’s before and after 253 00:18:50,180 –> 00:18:51,800 and what’s before and after here 254 00:18:51,800 –> 00:18:53,699 is all about the pursuit of holiness 255 00:18:53,699 –> 00:18:56,219 and how we go about it. 256 00:18:56,219 –> 00:18:58,339 What was happening in Colossae, 257 00:18:58,339 –> 00:19:00,619 the town to which Paul wrote this letter, 258 00:19:00,619 –> 00:19:02,339 there were some believers there, 259 00:19:02,339 –> 00:19:04,199 they had begun following Christ 260 00:19:04,199 –> 00:19:08,319 but they found as we all find at one place or another 261 00:19:08,319 –> 00:19:10,640 that the sheer weight of temptations 262 00:19:10,640 –> 00:19:13,219 seemed it felt to them to be overwhelming 263 00:19:14,219 –> 00:19:17,339 and folks had begun to ask this question, 264 00:19:17,339 –> 00:19:19,819 how do I deal with lust? 265 00:19:19,819 –> 00:19:21,979 How do I deal with all this stuff 266 00:19:21,979 –> 00:19:23,939 that comes up from within me? 267 00:19:23,939 –> 00:19:26,380 How am I to battle against it 268 00:19:26,380 –> 00:19:27,819 and folks were in difficulties 269 00:19:27,819 –> 00:19:29,300 and some of them had gone backwards 270 00:19:30,020 –> 00:19:31,900 and were living in defeat 271 00:19:31,900 –> 00:19:33,760 and whenever that question is raised 272 00:19:33,760 –> 00:19:35,459 there are always plenty of answers 273 00:19:35,459 –> 00:19:37,979 and one answer that doesn’t work 274 00:19:37,979 –> 00:19:39,780 is at the end of chapter two 275 00:19:39,780 –> 00:19:41,939 just before what Paul says here, 276 00:19:41,939 –> 00:19:43,380 basically Paul tells them, 277 00:19:43,380 –> 00:19:46,579 look you can’t overcome the root of sin 278 00:19:46,579 –> 00:19:50,739 simply by disciplines and boundaries and accountability, 279 00:19:50,739 –> 00:19:52,819 all these are good things do them, 280 00:19:52,819 –> 00:19:53,660 pursue them 281 00:19:53,660 –> 00:19:56,540 but if you only have disciplines and accountability 282 00:19:56,540 –> 00:19:58,319 it’s like pulling the tops off weeds, 283 00:19:58,439 –> 00:20:00,060 because these things because they’re human things 284 00:20:00,060 –> 00:20:03,160 don’t get to the root of the matter in the soul. 285 00:20:04,199 –> 00:20:06,180 Then if you look at chapter three in verse five 286 00:20:06,180 –> 00:20:08,599 what comes after the passage we’re looking at here 287 00:20:08,599 –> 00:20:11,640 you find him saying put to death therefore 288 00:20:11,640 –> 00:20:14,319 whatever is earthly in you, 289 00:20:14,319 –> 00:20:15,160 so you’re saying, 290 00:20:15,160 –> 00:20:17,160 now wait a minute what makes that possible then? 291 00:20:18,540 –> 00:20:20,780 And the answer is what’s in the middle. 292 00:20:20,780 –> 00:20:23,319 In our verses that you are raised with Christ 293 00:20:23,319 –> 00:20:25,719 that you have the power of a new life within you 294 00:20:26,560 –> 00:20:28,800 and that you set your mind 295 00:20:28,800 –> 00:20:31,359 on things that are above. 296 00:20:33,000 –> 00:20:35,500 So here we’re being told the value 297 00:20:36,780 –> 00:20:39,520 of setting your mind on the things above. 298 00:20:39,520 –> 00:20:41,560 It will change your view of your life in this world. 299 00:20:41,560 –> 00:20:44,359 It will change your view of money and what to do with it. 300 00:20:44,359 –> 00:20:47,439 It will give you strength in the toughest things 301 00:20:47,439 –> 00:20:49,319 that you experience in this world 302 00:20:49,319 –> 00:20:50,880 and it will motivate you 303 00:20:50,880 –> 00:20:53,739 in a whole new way in the pursuit of holiness. 304 00:20:54,680 –> 00:20:57,199 You’ll get beyond simply rules and disciplines. 305 00:20:57,199 –> 00:21:01,359 You will have the product of a life that is in Christ 306 00:21:01,359 –> 00:21:04,359 as you set your mind on things above. 307 00:21:04,359 –> 00:21:07,640 So immense value, you can see how that’s going to be 308 00:21:07,640 –> 00:21:11,300 shaping for all of us over time, as we do this. 309 00:21:12,680 –> 00:21:14,520 The question is, how? 310 00:21:15,939 –> 00:21:17,599 Okay, set your mind on things above. 311 00:21:17,599 –> 00:21:18,739 How am I to do that? 312 00:21:20,579 –> 00:21:21,900 Some practical help. 313 00:21:24,439 –> 00:21:28,739 Nobody has written on this subject more helpfully 314 00:21:28,739 –> 00:21:33,380 or more practically than Richard Baxter, 315 00:21:33,380 –> 00:21:37,660 who was a pastor in Kidderminster, in England, 316 00:21:37,660 –> 00:21:40,640 a remarkable and godly man. 317 00:21:40,640 –> 00:21:45,540 Just so you get the feel of Baxter and his own experience, 318 00:21:45,540 –> 00:21:49,880 let me read this description from Doctor J.I. Packer. 319 00:21:49,900 –> 00:21:53,400 We’re talking about a man living back in the 17th century, 320 00:21:54,280 –> 00:21:59,280 and Packer describes him as a chronically sick Puritan, 321 00:22:00,680 –> 00:22:05,520 tubercular from his teens, and suffering constantly 322 00:22:05,520 –> 00:22:09,900 from dyspepsia, kidney stones, 323 00:22:09,900 –> 00:22:14,479 headaches, toothaches, swollen limbs, 324 00:22:14,479 –> 00:22:17,839 intermittent bleeding at his extremities, 325 00:22:17,900 –> 00:22:21,520 and other troubles all before the days 326 00:22:21,520 –> 00:22:23,560 of pain-killing drugs. 327 00:22:23,560 –> 00:22:25,280 How would you like that life? 328 00:22:26,219 –> 00:22:29,660 Kidney stones, that’s bad enough on its own. 329 00:22:31,040 –> 00:22:33,800 All before the days of pain-killing drugs. 330 00:22:34,760 –> 00:22:36,619 So I’m telling you this so that you know 331 00:22:36,619 –> 00:22:38,979 that in listening to Richard Baxter, 332 00:22:38,979 –> 00:22:41,099 we are listening to wisdom that has come out 333 00:22:41,099 –> 00:22:46,099 of a man who really knew pain, physical pain all his life 334 00:22:46,119 –> 00:22:50,119 from early childhood, tubercular from teenage years. 335 00:22:51,640 –> 00:22:53,439 Now how do you live with that? 336 00:22:54,780 –> 00:22:58,000 How do you gut it out if your life’s as hard as that? 337 00:22:59,359 –> 00:23:02,199 And here was Richard Baxter’s answer. 338 00:23:02,199 –> 00:23:07,040 He decided to spend 30 minutes every day 339 00:23:07,040 –> 00:23:08,599 thinking about heaven. 340 00:23:09,520 –> 00:23:13,079 Half an hour every day, setting his mind 341 00:23:13,079 –> 00:23:15,160 on things that are above. 342 00:23:15,319 –> 00:23:18,839 He began doing this when he was 30 years old. 343 00:23:18,839 –> 00:23:22,319 Already he’d suffered a fair bit, tubercular from his teens. 344 00:23:22,319 –> 00:23:23,599 But when he was 30 years old, 345 00:23:23,599 –> 00:23:24,959 he decided, this is what I must do. 346 00:23:24,959 –> 00:23:26,280 I’ve got to spend half an hour every day 347 00:23:26,280 –> 00:23:29,040 just thinking about heaven and what is mine in heaven 348 00:23:29,040 –> 00:23:33,020 and lifting my mind above this dreadful stuff 349 00:23:33,020 –> 00:23:34,439 that I’m experiencing here 350 00:23:34,439 –> 00:23:36,599 and setting my mind on what is to come. 351 00:23:36,599 –> 00:23:41,520 And he did that from the age of 30 for the rest of his life. 352 00:23:41,520 –> 00:23:45,280 Doctor Packer says, this cultivation gave him 353 00:23:45,280 –> 00:23:48,439 a daily doggedness, I like that, 354 00:23:48,439 –> 00:23:49,760 in hard work for God, 355 00:23:49,760 –> 00:23:53,400 despite the debilitating effects of his sick body. 356 00:23:53,400 –> 00:23:56,000 And this man actually had a wonderfully fruitful life 357 00:23:56,000 –> 00:23:57,739 and a wonderfully fruitful ministry 358 00:23:57,739 –> 00:24:00,119 in evangelism and in discipleship 359 00:24:00,119 –> 00:24:04,140 and seemed able to endure these great difficulties 360 00:24:04,140 –> 00:24:07,619 because he set his mind on things that are above. 361 00:24:07,680 –> 00:24:12,040 Now in 1650, Richard Baxter wrote a book 362 00:24:12,040 –> 00:24:15,839 called the Saints’ Everlasting Rest. 363 00:24:15,839 –> 00:24:17,040 It’s about heaven. 364 00:24:18,040 –> 00:24:20,900 And I guess if you’ve been thinking about heaven 365 00:24:20,900 –> 00:24:23,459 for half an hour everyday since the age of 30, 366 00:24:23,459 –> 00:24:25,140 then eventually you have a lot of thoughts 367 00:24:25,140 –> 00:24:27,000 in your mind about heaven, right? 368 00:24:27,000 –> 00:24:29,699 And so he wrote a very, very long book about heaven, 369 00:24:29,699 –> 00:24:31,420 a really long book. 370 00:24:31,420 –> 00:24:34,079 And it’s not terribly easy to read, 371 00:24:34,079 –> 00:24:36,699 the language is somewhat obscure. 372 00:24:36,719 –> 00:24:40,699 And yet there has not been, I think, 373 00:24:40,699 –> 00:24:45,160 before or since a more profound treatment 374 00:24:45,160 –> 00:24:48,780 of what it means to set your mind on things above 375 00:24:48,780 –> 00:24:52,260 than Richard Baxter in the Saints’ Everlasting Rest, 376 00:24:52,260 –> 00:24:53,839 because he did it everyday of his life. 377 00:24:53,839 –> 00:24:56,020 This was the thing that he gave himself to. 378 00:24:57,459 –> 00:25:00,760 Now, at the end of his book, 379 00:25:00,760 –> 00:25:04,880 he lays out what he calls directions 380 00:25:04,880 –> 00:25:08,239 for meditating on your future life. 381 00:25:08,239 –> 00:25:10,780 And that in itself is, I don’t know, 382 00:25:10,780 –> 00:25:12,099 well more than 100 pages. 383 00:25:12,099 –> 00:25:14,339 And I’ve only got a few minutes left. 384 00:25:14,339 –> 00:25:16,859 So, let me just give you a quick summary 385 00:25:16,859 –> 00:25:20,180 of things that I have gained and found really helpful 386 00:25:20,180 –> 00:25:23,859 in my own life that I’ve drawn from Richard Baxter, 387 00:25:23,859 –> 00:25:26,780 whose whole life was really centered around this theme 388 00:25:26,780 –> 00:25:31,439 of what it means to set your mind on things above. 389 00:25:31,439 –> 00:25:33,020 And so just these four observations, 390 00:25:33,660 –> 00:25:35,479 I hope they’ll be as helpful to you 391 00:25:35,479 –> 00:25:38,760 as I am finding them in my own life. 392 00:25:38,760 –> 00:25:40,680 The first is simply this, 393 00:25:40,680 –> 00:25:45,400 take responsibility for directing your mind, 394 00:25:45,400 –> 00:25:49,359 take responsibility for directing your mind. 395 00:25:49,359 –> 00:25:52,140 Listen, set your mind, 396 00:25:52,140 –> 00:25:54,920 set your mind on the things that are above. 397 00:25:54,920 –> 00:25:57,020 This is something for you to do. 398 00:25:57,020 –> 00:26:00,599 It is something you must do and it is something you can do. 399 00:26:00,599 –> 00:26:04,319 It is something you must do because it is a command of God. 400 00:26:04,319 –> 00:26:05,859 Just because it’s in the New Testament 401 00:26:05,859 –> 00:26:07,920 doesn’t mean it’s not a command, it is a command. 402 00:26:07,920 –> 00:26:09,319 Set your mind on things above. 403 00:26:09,319 –> 00:26:10,739 This is what God is saying to you. 404 00:26:10,739 –> 00:26:13,640 You must do it, God calls you to it. 405 00:26:13,640 –> 00:26:14,359 Not optional. 406 00:26:15,300 –> 00:26:17,479 And also you need to know that you can do it. 407 00:26:17,479 –> 00:26:18,780 How can I do it? 408 00:26:18,780 –> 00:26:20,260 Because you’re raised with Christ, 409 00:26:20,260 –> 00:26:23,140 if you’re a Christian, you have the ability to do this. 410 00:26:24,140 –> 00:26:26,180 Setting your mind on things that are up above 411 00:26:26,180 –> 00:26:29,900 is part of your God-given Christian job description. 412 00:26:29,979 –> 00:26:31,280 It’s something that He calls you to do. 413 00:26:31,280 –> 00:26:33,780 It’s not optional it’s in there. 414 00:26:33,780 –> 00:26:35,459 Here’s one of the reasons that I find 415 00:26:35,459 –> 00:26:38,160 the Puritan writers to be so helpful. 416 00:26:39,099 –> 00:26:43,160 They not only had a very close walk with God, 417 00:26:43,160 –> 00:26:46,739 but they seemed to have a particular understanding 418 00:26:46,739 –> 00:26:48,880 of the human individual. 419 00:26:49,640 –> 00:26:51,500 And one of the ways in which that is expressed 420 00:26:51,500 –> 00:26:54,180 was that they understood that although you have a mind 421 00:26:54,180 –> 00:26:57,140 and you have a heart and you have a will, 422 00:26:57,140 –> 00:26:58,579 you are more than your mind 423 00:26:58,579 –> 00:27:00,060 and you are more than your heart 424 00:27:00,060 –> 00:27:02,479 and you are more than your will, 425 00:27:02,479 –> 00:27:05,939 that the Christian as it were is an individual 426 00:27:05,939 –> 00:27:08,660 that can be differentiated from simply the mind 427 00:27:08,660 –> 00:27:11,060 or from the heart or from the will. 428 00:27:11,060 –> 00:27:13,060 And therefore that you are in a position 429 00:27:13,060 –> 00:27:16,000 to speak to your mind and speak to your heart 430 00:27:16,000 –> 00:27:18,839 and speak to your will to give direction to them 431 00:27:18,839 –> 00:27:23,300 to set your mind to set your heart and to set your will. 432 00:27:24,479 –> 00:27:25,739 Enormously helpful. 433 00:27:26,680 –> 00:27:30,000 Of course we know about this in relation to the body. 434 00:27:31,000 –> 00:27:33,099 You watch a game of football in the afternoon 435 00:27:33,099 –> 00:27:36,260 Sunday afternoon, sit in the lazy boy, 436 00:27:36,260 –> 00:27:39,040 remote control bag of chips or whatever, you know. 437 00:27:40,140 –> 00:27:41,160 And you really enjoy it, 438 00:27:41,160 –> 00:27:44,619 this is wonderfully relaxing and that’s a good thing. 439 00:27:44,619 –> 00:27:46,520 And at the end you think, 440 00:27:46,520 –> 00:27:50,540 oh boy now I feel really sluggish, you know that feeling? 441 00:27:51,420 –> 00:27:55,099 And you think I better get up and have some exercise. 442 00:27:55,099 –> 00:27:57,619 I ought to go a walk or maybe you’ll go for a run 443 00:27:57,619 –> 00:27:59,699 or whatever that is for you. 444 00:27:59,699 –> 00:28:02,280 Get on the treadmill or I don’t know. 445 00:28:02,280 –> 00:28:03,219 And so what do you do? 446 00:28:03,219 –> 00:28:05,119 Your body’s lying there in the lazy boy, 447 00:28:05,119 –> 00:28:07,579 your body doesn’t particularly wanna get up, 448 00:28:07,579 –> 00:28:09,540 but you know that you need to get up 449 00:28:09,540 –> 00:28:10,560 so you rouse your body, don’t you? 450 00:28:10,560 –> 00:28:12,400 You say, I’ve gotta get up and go for a walk, 451 00:28:12,400 –> 00:28:13,380 or your wife says it’s time you got up 452 00:28:13,380 –> 00:28:15,459 and went for a walk, right? 453 00:28:15,459 –> 00:28:16,300 Okay? 454 00:28:16,300 –> 00:28:19,540 And so some direction is given to the body 455 00:28:19,540 –> 00:28:21,839 and the litte body rises and goes for a walk. 456 00:28:22,839 –> 00:28:24,439 Now in precisely the same way, 457 00:28:24,439 –> 00:28:27,500 it’s almost without thinking we give direction to the body. 458 00:28:28,699 –> 00:28:30,959 Learn to give direction to your mind, 459 00:28:30,959 –> 00:28:32,760 to your heart, to your will. 460 00:28:32,760 –> 00:28:34,599 Set your mind, you see? 461 00:28:35,719 –> 00:28:37,079 Let me take a second step. 462 00:28:38,599 –> 00:28:43,599 Learn the art of talking to yourself. 463 00:28:44,500 –> 00:28:46,760 Learn the art of talking to yourself. 464 00:28:46,760 –> 00:28:48,920 We smile because you say, 465 00:28:48,920 –> 00:28:51,239 well I thought that talking to yourself 466 00:28:51,319 –> 00:28:54,079 was the first sign of madness, right? 467 00:28:55,239 –> 00:28:57,719 Well actually, as we’re referring to it here, 468 00:28:57,719 –> 00:29:00,319 it is a sure sign of spiritual growth. 469 00:29:01,339 –> 00:29:03,599 It’s all over the Bible, especially the Psalms. 470 00:29:03,599 –> 00:29:07,359 When David says, bless the Lord, oh my soul, 471 00:29:07,359 –> 00:29:08,319 who’s he talking to? 472 00:29:08,319 –> 00:29:09,699 He’s talking to himself. 473 00:29:10,880 –> 00:29:14,319 When he says, why are you cast down, oh my soul 474 00:29:14,319 –> 00:29:18,140 and why are you so discouraged within me, 475 00:29:18,140 –> 00:29:19,599 disturbed within me? 476 00:29:20,300 –> 00:29:21,680 Well, who’s he talking to? 477 00:29:21,680 –> 00:29:23,380 He’s talking to himself. 478 00:29:25,280 –> 00:29:28,119 Now, Martyn Lloyd-Jones made this observation 479 00:29:28,119 –> 00:29:30,180 on many occasions, he said, we get into 480 00:29:30,180 –> 00:29:33,060 so many difficulties as Christians 481 00:29:33,060 –> 00:29:36,160 because we spend too much time listening to ourselves 482 00:29:36,160 –> 00:29:39,219 and not enough time talking to ourselves. 483 00:29:39,219 –> 00:29:40,260 That’s very helpful. 484 00:29:41,140 –> 00:29:42,859 It’s, oh, my heart is saying this. 485 00:29:42,859 –> 00:29:44,739 Well, speak to your heart about that. 486 00:29:45,599 –> 00:29:47,199 Oh, my mind’s going all over the place, 487 00:29:47,199 –> 00:29:48,420 speak to your mind about that. 488 00:29:48,420 –> 00:29:50,260 Set your mind, you see. 489 00:29:51,500 –> 00:29:52,640 You’re more than your mind, 490 00:29:52,640 –> 00:29:53,619 you’re more than your heart, 491 00:29:53,619 –> 00:29:54,920 you’re more than your will. 492 00:29:56,780 –> 00:29:59,020 Baxter has a wonderful little picture here 493 00:29:59,020 –> 00:30:01,459 that all of us will understand. 494 00:30:01,459 –> 00:30:05,180 He says you need to learn to manage 495 00:30:05,180 –> 00:30:08,319 your own heart, manage your own heart. 496 00:30:09,500 –> 00:30:11,920 Now, think about being in business. 497 00:30:11,920 –> 00:30:13,219 Imagine you’re running a business, 498 00:30:13,219 –> 00:30:15,540 many of you folks are doing this. 499 00:30:15,540 –> 00:30:17,199 And you’ve got a few employees, 500 00:30:17,199 –> 00:30:18,560 and now you hire a new guy 501 00:30:18,560 –> 00:30:19,319 and he’s just out of college 502 00:30:19,319 –> 00:30:21,459 and you’ve got a real clear job description 503 00:30:21,459 –> 00:30:23,040 and a purpose and a task for him. 504 00:30:23,040 –> 00:30:24,920 And you say you’re the man, go to it. 505 00:30:24,920 –> 00:30:26,280 Here’s what you need to do. 506 00:30:26,280 –> 00:30:28,219 And he begins to work for you. 507 00:30:29,319 –> 00:30:30,579 And after a couple of days, 508 00:30:30,579 –> 00:30:32,339 there’s a pattern that’s very obvious, 509 00:30:32,339 –> 00:30:34,939 he’s not doing what’s on the job description at all. 510 00:30:35,920 –> 00:30:38,400 And in fact, he’s hardly at his desk. 511 00:30:38,400 –> 00:30:40,119 What he’s doing is he’s wandering around 512 00:30:40,119 –> 00:30:41,880 and he’s chatting to the other employees 513 00:30:41,880 –> 00:30:43,560 and he’s distracting them from their work 514 00:30:43,560 –> 00:30:44,920 and he’s having a marvelous time, 515 00:30:44,920 –> 00:30:46,020 but he’s not being productive. 516 00:30:46,099 –> 00:30:48,300 He’s not doing what you hired him to do. 517 00:30:50,239 –> 00:30:51,619 He’s going where his heart wants to go. 518 00:30:51,619 –> 00:30:53,060 He’s going where his mind wants to go 519 00:30:53,060 –> 00:30:54,319 and he’s not focused. 520 00:30:55,900 –> 00:30:57,699 So you are the manager. 521 00:30:57,699 –> 00:30:58,660 What are you going to do? 522 00:30:58,660 –> 00:31:00,079 Well, you know what you’re going to do. 523 00:31:00,079 –> 00:31:01,319 You’re going to bring him into the office 524 00:31:01,319 –> 00:31:02,260 and you’re going to sit down. 525 00:31:02,260 –> 00:31:05,280 You’re going to have a good, straight talk with him. 526 00:31:05,280 –> 00:31:06,839 Aren’t you? 527 00:31:06,839 –> 00:31:07,760 You’re going to say, 528 00:31:07,760 –> 00:31:09,300 look, this is no good. 529 00:31:09,300 –> 00:31:10,859 Let’s understand some things straight. 530 00:31:10,859 –> 00:31:13,339 You know how to make that speech. 531 00:31:13,339 –> 00:31:14,260 You’ll manage him. 532 00:31:14,560 –> 00:31:16,859 Now says Baxter, 533 00:31:16,859 –> 00:31:19,680 that’s exactly what you have to do with your own heart 534 00:31:19,680 –> 00:31:21,380 because your heart will always be in trouble. 535 00:31:21,380 –> 00:31:23,619 Your heart will always be going all over the place 536 00:31:23,619 –> 00:31:26,500 and wanting this and moving after that. 537 00:31:26,500 –> 00:31:29,479 And you need to learn to be a manager of your own heart. 538 00:31:29,479 –> 00:31:31,839 Set your mind, set your heart. 539 00:31:33,060 –> 00:31:34,719 Speak to it. 540 00:31:34,719 –> 00:31:36,640 Round on your heart he says. 541 00:31:36,640 –> 00:31:37,979 I love that old language. 542 00:31:37,979 –> 00:31:40,579 He says, round on your heart. 543 00:31:40,579 –> 00:31:42,339 Don’t accept its excuses. 544 00:31:42,339 –> 00:31:44,020 Chide it for its backwardness. 545 00:31:44,780 –> 00:31:47,079 Bring it into service whether it’s willing or not. 546 00:31:48,300 –> 00:31:49,739 Learn the art of speaking to yourself. 547 00:31:49,739 –> 00:31:50,900 Here’s the third thing. 548 00:31:51,780 –> 00:31:56,780 Direct your heart by exercising faith in God’s promise. 549 00:31:58,540 –> 00:31:59,660 Here’s how you do it. 550 00:32:00,719 –> 00:32:03,520 Baxter’s language is beautiful here. 551 00:32:03,520 –> 00:32:07,020 He says, let faith as it were, 552 00:32:07,020 –> 00:32:09,780 take your heart by the hand 553 00:32:10,760 –> 00:32:15,300 and show your heart your riches and glory. 554 00:32:16,260 –> 00:32:19,540 Let your faith take your heart by the hand 555 00:32:20,939 –> 00:32:23,520 and show your heart all that is yours 556 00:32:23,520 –> 00:32:28,180 in the Lord Jesus Christ. 557 00:32:29,459 –> 00:32:30,680 What a beautiful picture. 558 00:32:32,339 –> 00:32:37,339 Baxter says, take a walk in the New Jerusalem every day. 559 00:32:40,780 –> 00:32:41,699 Think about that. 560 00:32:42,660 –> 00:32:45,459 So, I take a walk, most days, 561 00:32:45,459 –> 00:32:47,619 it’s not a very remarkable thing, 562 00:32:47,619 –> 00:32:49,880 once round the block, just a little bit of exercise, 563 00:32:49,880 –> 00:32:52,099 should be a lot further and it should be a lot faster, 564 00:32:52,099 –> 00:32:54,819 I’m sure, but I take this little walk round the block 565 00:32:55,939 –> 00:32:57,540 and Baxter is saying now, 566 00:32:58,500 –> 00:33:01,560 take a little walk round the New Jerusalem, every day. 567 00:33:02,439 –> 00:33:04,160 Set your mind on things above. 568 00:33:04,160 –> 00:33:05,859 Every day, have some time, 569 00:33:05,859 –> 00:33:08,660 when you think about what is yours in Christ 570 00:33:08,839 –> 00:33:12,699 and all that will be yours in his presence. 571 00:33:12,699 –> 00:33:13,780 By the way, you could do that 572 00:33:13,780 –> 00:33:15,219 while you’re walking round the block. 573 00:33:15,219 –> 00:33:17,040 That would be a good combination, wouldn’t it? 574 00:33:17,040 –> 00:33:20,140 You exercise your body and you set your mind 575 00:33:20,140 –> 00:33:24,599 and you set your heart and you bring into mind scriptures, 576 00:33:24,599 –> 00:33:27,699 just a simple scripture that speaks to you 577 00:33:28,900 –> 00:33:29,739 about what is yours. 578 00:33:29,739 –> 00:33:33,839 In my Father’s house, there are many many rooms. 579 00:33:34,979 –> 00:33:37,640 And where I am, you will be also. 580 00:33:38,979 –> 00:33:41,079 And think not only about Heaven in general, 581 00:33:41,079 –> 00:33:44,739 but remember this, that Heaven is where Christ is seated. 582 00:33:44,739 –> 00:33:46,619 So to set your mind on things above 583 00:33:46,619 –> 00:33:50,819 means to set your mind on all that is yours in Christ. 584 00:33:50,819 –> 00:33:54,040 Heart, you’re so discouraged today and you’re down, 585 00:33:54,040 –> 00:33:56,359 but look at what is yours in Jesus now 586 00:33:56,359 –> 00:33:58,800 and look at what is yours in Jesus to come. 587 00:34:00,160 –> 00:34:04,380 Learn to be a kind of preacher to your own heart. 588 00:34:04,380 –> 00:34:08,179 Show your own heart the riches that are yours 589 00:34:08,179 –> 00:34:10,479 in Jesus Christ. 590 00:34:10,479 –> 00:34:12,959 Tell yourself, rouse yourself, you see. 591 00:34:14,540 –> 00:34:17,899 And then here’s the last thing, just very briefly. 592 00:34:17,899 –> 00:34:21,100 Use the joys of Earth 593 00:34:21,100 –> 00:34:23,340 to propel you 594 00:34:23,340 –> 00:34:24,600 towards Heaven. 595 00:34:25,699 –> 00:34:27,379 Set your mind on things above. 596 00:34:27,379 –> 00:34:28,340 How am I to do that? 597 00:34:28,340 –> 00:34:30,260 Well, just on an everyday basis, 598 00:34:30,300 –> 00:34:34,739 try to cultivate the habit of using the joys of this life 599 00:34:34,739 –> 00:34:38,179 to propel you so that your mind will be set 600 00:34:38,179 –> 00:34:40,219 on the things that are above, 601 00:34:40,219 –> 00:34:41,919 so very simply, 602 00:34:42,800 –> 00:34:45,939 within the next hour or two, 603 00:34:47,260 –> 00:34:49,659 all of us will have a lunch, 604 00:34:50,699 –> 00:34:53,360 and maybe some of you will have a nice lunch, 605 00:34:53,360 –> 00:34:56,340 and you say, it’s Sunday and I’m really hungry, 606 00:34:56,340 –> 00:34:58,620 and you go to a nice restaurant, perhaps, 607 00:34:58,679 –> 00:35:00,340 or have a wonderful meal in your home, 608 00:35:00,340 –> 00:35:02,639 and you know that feeling when you come, 609 00:35:02,639 –> 00:35:04,620 you’re hungry and there’s a lovely meal, 610 00:35:04,620 –> 00:35:06,860 here’s a steak, you say, 611 00:35:06,860 –> 00:35:08,639 and you say, oh, that was a marvelous steak, 612 00:35:08,639 –> 00:35:10,659 and you feel so satisfied at the end. 613 00:35:12,060 –> 00:35:14,760 Now very simply, make this the habit of your mind, 614 00:35:16,179 –> 00:35:20,139 if it feels so good to have been satisfied 615 00:35:20,139 –> 00:35:22,899 at a table with a piece of steak, 616 00:35:24,100 –> 00:35:26,600 how much more will be your joy 617 00:35:26,620 –> 00:35:28,639 when you are satisfied at the table 618 00:35:28,639 –> 00:35:31,820 in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ? 619 00:35:31,820 –> 00:35:33,000 What will that be? 620 00:35:34,139 –> 00:35:37,000 In other words, don’t let the steak tie you more to earth, 621 00:35:37,000 –> 00:35:38,280 oh, isn’t this life wonderful, 622 00:35:38,280 –> 00:35:39,439 we get to eat steak, 623 00:35:39,439 –> 00:35:42,260 no, let the steak that you’ve enjoyed 624 00:35:42,260 –> 00:35:45,379 propel your mind to the greater joys 625 00:35:45,379 –> 00:35:47,919 that lie ahead of you in heaven, 626 00:35:47,919 –> 00:35:50,260 and then run that right throughout your whole life. 627 00:35:50,260 –> 00:35:53,520 If you’re finding pleasure in the arts, 628 00:35:53,560 –> 00:35:58,479 or science, or technology, 629 00:35:58,479 –> 00:36:00,439 and you’re studying, and you’re learning. 630 00:36:00,439 –> 00:36:02,600 Don’t let that be like a ball and chain 631 00:36:02,600 –> 00:36:05,639 that ties you more and more and more to earthly things. 632 00:36:05,639 –> 00:36:07,939 Use the blessings of life in this world 633 00:36:07,939 –> 00:36:09,199 to propel your mind to heaven. 634 00:36:09,199 –> 00:36:13,239 Say, look, if the product of human genius and imagination 635 00:36:13,239 –> 00:36:16,540 can be this beautiful and this fascinating to me, 636 00:36:16,540 –> 00:36:18,580 what will it be in the presence of Christ 637 00:36:18,580 –> 00:36:20,379 in the new heaven and the new Earth? 638 00:36:21,219 –> 00:36:23,760 And if you experience the love of friendship, 639 00:36:23,760 –> 00:36:26,379 the joy of marriage, let that not be the thing 640 00:36:26,379 –> 00:36:27,800 that ties you to the Earth. 641 00:36:27,800 –> 00:36:30,020 Oh, well, you know, this is what we have here. 642 00:36:30,020 –> 00:36:32,199 Let the joys of that that are so great 643 00:36:32,199 –> 00:36:33,580 propel your mind to heaven. 644 00:36:33,580 –> 00:36:35,639 How great will be the joys there? 645 00:36:37,360 –> 00:36:39,120 In other words, don’t let the joys 646 00:36:39,120 –> 00:36:41,179 of this world become your anchor. 647 00:36:42,399 –> 00:36:44,219 Use the joys of this world 648 00:36:44,219 –> 00:36:46,600 that they may propel your mind and your heart 649 00:36:46,600 –> 00:36:48,659 to think about the things which are above, 650 00:36:49,300 –> 00:36:53,479 which are longer-lasting, and better in every way. 651 00:36:53,479 –> 00:36:56,540 Don’t let the joys of Earth tie you down. 652 00:36:56,540 –> 00:36:59,479 Let the joys of Earth lift you up. 653 00:36:59,479 –> 00:37:01,620 Use the blessings of this life 654 00:37:01,620 –> 00:37:03,520 to anticipate the greater blessings 655 00:37:03,520 –> 00:37:05,199 that are yours in Christ, 656 00:37:05,199 –> 00:37:08,219 and that lie ahead of you in His presence 657 00:37:08,219 –> 00:37:09,600 at His right hand. 658 00:37:09,600 –> 00:37:10,719 And so Paul says, 659 00:37:10,719 –> 00:37:14,139 if then you have been raised with Christ, 660 00:37:14,139 –> 00:37:17,840 seek the things that are above, where Christ is, 661 00:37:17,840 –> 00:37:20,399 seated at the right hand of God. 662 00:37:20,399 –> 00:37:22,840 Set your minds on the things that are above, 663 00:37:22,840 –> 00:37:24,639 not on the things of the earth, 664 00:37:24,639 –> 00:37:26,840 for you have died and your life is hidden 665 00:37:26,840 –> 00:37:28,699 with Christ in God. 666 00:37:28,699 –> 00:37:32,600 And when Christ who is your life appears, 667 00:37:32,600 –> 00:37:37,600 you also will appear with Him in glory. 668 00:37:39,739 –> 00:37:44,739 Father, let us live in joyful anticipation 669 00:37:45,739 –> 00:37:50,239 of all that is ours in Christ 670 00:37:50,239 –> 00:37:55,280 and all that is ours in Him already 671 00:37:55,280 –> 00:37:58,020 and all that is yet to be. 672 00:37:58,020 –> 00:38:01,340 For these things we ask in the Savior’s name 673 00:38:01,340 –> 00:38:02,840 and everyone together said, amen.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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Sometime soon, we’ll all be in another world. What will it be like? The inner-workings of death seem hidden from us, like a room with the lights turned off. But God has not left us completely in the dark. In the Bible, God tells us the Inside Story of Your Future Life. In this series,

Colin Smith

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