Colossians 3:1-2

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your heart on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your heart on things above, not on earthly things."

(Colossians 3:1-2 ~ NIV/UK version)

The curse of earthly idols, pursuits and indulgences is that our hearts would despise our heavenly abode where Christ is present. Partaking His resurrection also means partaking His death (Col 3:3-4), and therefore, we cannot but abandon those things that keep us from taking up our crosses and following Him.

However, we cannot just divorce our carnal interests cold turkey. Rather, we are to set our hearts on things above. In other words, get busy anticipating and delighting in our heavenly abode. Seek the Kingdom of God. Preach the Gospel in season and out of season. Love His people. Love the people He loves. Such distract us from self-centredness.

"Set your heart on things above...." Following Jesus is essentially a matter of our hearts. We cannot follow Him unwilling. Neither does He force us to follow Him. No. We decide for ourselves to follow Him - and stick to it because it is worth all our hard work and leaving behind.

Reading and studying these verses bring me to ponder on where I am now in my faith. Where my heart is. Set on my Heavenly abode? I only wish that I could say YES to this with more conviction.

I need to repent.

I confess that there are quite a few very earthly matters burdening my mind and weighing me down at the moment. And I need to let them go. Difficult. Wait, perhaps... I wasn't meant to let go of them cold turkey. Rather, I'd need to get busy anticipating and delighting in the hope that I have in Christ.

The hope we have in Christ goes far beyond the temporary gratification of fleshly wants, worldly ideals and reputation-soaring achievements. Unimaginably glorious, it invites (and urges) us to be heavenly minded today.