May 6– LD 18, Day 7: We Seek Heavenly Things

Colossians 3:1-3, “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.”

This is now the third advantage for us of Christ’s ascension into heaven. It is expressed in the catechism this way, “That He sends us His Spirit as an earnest by whose power we seek the things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God, and not the things on earth.”

There is a close connection between the first advantage and this one. We saw that Christ as our advocate at the right hand of God prays for our complete and final salvation, both personally and as it pertains to the entire church. The answer to that prayer includes the marvelous act of the Father to give to Jesus the Holy Spirit, by whose presence and power we are spiritually changed.

The proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives is that we become spiritually active. We turn our backs on the pleasures of sin, repent of our sinful deeds and our sinful nature and seek after God’s way. We desire to walk with God and enjoy fellowship with His people. All of this displays the presence of the Spirit of Christ. Even more than that, it is the “earnest” or guaranteed pledge of perfection.

The direction of this spiritual life is heavenward.

We take our burdens to the Father in the name of Jesus; we seek forgiveness for sins and deliverance from the power of sin. Because Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, He takes our prayers and makes intercession for us with the Father. Our Father receives our cries for the sake of Jesus, His Son. “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”

Looking heavenward, we direct our life to heaven, we “seek the things which are above”. What a change in direction. We become heavenly minded, we measure our spiritual progress by heaven’s standard. We act like we belong in heaven.

Blessings flow to us from heaven and we direct our life towards heaven.

Are you thus converted unto God by the resurrected and ascended Lord Jesus?