Thought of the Day !!

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand.  Think about things of heaven, not the things of earth.  For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.  And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. – Colossians 3:1-4 (NLT)

Paul tells us to set our sights on the "realities of heaven".  When I hear someone say that they've set their sights on something, I take it to mean that this is their goal.  I noticed this morning that Paul didn't tell us to set our sights on "heaven".  He didn't say make it your goal to get to heaven.  He said something, I think, to be much different.  

Making our goal in this life to get to heaven kind of seems like the goal is to get out of this life "alive" and "in tact".  It seems to mean more of a destination instead of a way of life.  When Paul tells us to "set our sights on (or make our goal) the realities of heaven" I take it to mean the kind of life we will be living when we get there.  

We'll be living a totally different life in heaven than we do here on earth.  Our thoughts will be on others as much as on ourselves.  "Getting ahead" won't mean beating someone out for a position, but instead lifting others up by serving.  Work won't be something often dreaded, but something we enjoy.  Worshiping won't be about an hour or two on Sunday morning singing songs some don't like and listening to a sermon that some believe is too long.  It will be about joyful praise in the presence of the Creator and the Savior.  

These things are to come.  But they can also be enjoyed in this life as we practice them in our daily lives.  Sometimes all it takes to find happiness is an attitude change.  Other times circumstances can make our lives much more difficult.  But in those too, we can set our sights on the "realities of heaven" when circumstances will be different.  May this bring us peace and joy in times when this life does all it can to bring us down.

In the love of Christ,

greg