Your Real Life
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. (Colossians 3:1-4 NLT)
Greetings friends,
What is it about vacations and holidays we like so much? Why is it at this time of year so many of us seek “a break” from the harshness of winter or a recuperation period after a busy Christmas? Canadians traveling South to warmer climates in search of a “little R and R” (that’s rest and relaxation) is a multi-billion-dollar industry. Many of us feel we need to “get away” because we’re tired of the daily grind, the mundane routine busyness of everyday life. We’re tired of the ‘same old, same old’ and just need that coveted “change of scenery”. Dealing with cold and shoveling snow brings us over the edge of our already stressed and maxed out lifestyle. So we look for an escape; an oasis to flee to, where we can momentarily get away from the toil and trials of everyday life. Funny thing is, we are willing to endure the agony of early morning flights and chaotic airports and planes, losing two whole days due to travel and bad airplane sleep, in order to get a few days of the coveted R & R. Only to return home and start the cycle all over again! I guess in the end, it’s just part of being an affluent Canadian who is on the treadmill of life as we know it. Sound pessimistic? Maybe, but that is the life that people flee other countries to embrace, while we flee our country to get away from it. Oh the irony! Maybe this whole crazy thing has a higher purpose in the end.
As many of us often do, David uttered these words: “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed, I would wander far off and remain in the wilderness.” (Psa. 55:6-7). Escape! That’s the desire! Get far away from all the problems and crazy people I have to deal with! Even the great apostle Paul desired to “depart and be with Christ” (Phil 1:23). These two men had it pretty tough. David’s enemies were after him; his friends were rebelling and Paul was in jail for the cause of Christ. Who wouldn’t want a break from that! Herein lies the rub: life is filled with difficulties, trials and heartaches…that is life on planet Earth! The solution is to leave planet Earth. “To live is Christ, to die is gain” says Paul (Phil 1:21). Re-read the text from Colossians above…let it sink in. You died; your ‘real life’ is found in Christ. We might be able to momentarily run away from the craziness of our earthly life, but it will always be there – people and circumstances will always cause us problems. True escape is “setting our sights on the realities of heaven; let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things on earth”. Christ is our life! He is ‘real life’. In Him is peace and joy – the fulness of them: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps. 16:11). What if, instead of spending thousands of dollars to get away, we just spent an hour or so everyday in His presence. Fixing our thoughts on heaven and on Christ. What if we communed with Him and gave Him all of our anxieties and burdens and took on the fruit of being in His presence – the fruit of Holy Spirit. Mini-vacations…everyday, when ‘the crazy’ got to be too much! What if we went on a weekend retreat and just spent time with Jesus? Just stop! And fix your thoughts on heaven! It’s always a mind issue. We can really get our mind going in a million directions when we think about all the problems. Stop! Focus on heaven; focus on Jesus; focus on your life in Christ; focus on the fact that He is the reason you live and move and have your being; He is the One you will spend eternity with in a glorious kingdom; He is the One who could return at any moment and take you away from this toil and trouble and take you to a land where there will be no more of it…in the twinkling of the eye, it could be all over. Friends, “you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” This is such an incredible truth! Not sure why the New Living Translation chose “real life”, but I love it. What I am living everyday on planet earth is not my real life. Real life is only found in Christ – Whoever has the Son has life! Let’s take time out during our earthly life to focus on our heavenly life, and the source of true life – even Christ. Rest...in Christ.
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:25-26)
"Advancing the Kingdom of God by releasing Spirit-filled followers to serve Jesus in freedom and joy."
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