The Christian finds himself in a unique place, a citizen of Heaven, yet living in this world. In this place of dual residency, he must live out his days on this side of the veil with eternity in view. The Christian must conform his thoughts, words, and deeds to Christ above all; yet, living in this world includes the temptation to act as the world does. This is why the apostle Paul, in writing to the church in Colossae urges his brethren to “seek the things that are above, where Christ is” (3:1). He calls the Colossians (and all Christians everywhere) to fix their eyes on Christ and to be conformed to Him alone in all things. It is in this command that the Christian finds the antidote against being led by the world in how we should live.

In 1:15-20, Paul writes one of the most powerful passages explaining the deity of Christ, in which he states, “For in him all the fullness of God was please to dwell…” (1:19). This passage is the lynchpin of the letter, the very reason why the Christian is called to be conformed to Christ and not the world. It is Christ who created all things (1:16), He is the One who existed before the foundations of creation were laid (1:17), He is the head of the church itself (1:18), and He is the One through whom sinners are reconciled to Himself (1:20). There is no Christianity, no church, and no forgiveness for sin if not for Christ. The Christian owes his very existence and his salvation to the perfect God-Man. As such, the Christian must recognize and humbly submit to Christ as the sole authority in his life. His whole life is one of seeking to conform himself to the Savior who purchased him by His shed blood. It is a loving and willing submission, a desire to serve Christ because He is so precious to the Christian. Paul is calling the church to see Christ for who He is, the God to whom we owe everything.

It is with this in mind, that Paul writes to the church, “as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him…” (2:6). Paul is calling the church to live in such a way as to be fully conformed to Christ. This means that Christians must live out their time in this world by corresponding their thoughts, words, and deeds with how Christ is revealed to us in His word. It also means rejecting the ideologies and behaviors of this world. This is why Paul writes “Put to death what is earthly in you…” (3:5) and further states “…whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (3:17). It is a complete rejection of the deeds of the flesh and the temptations of the world. We are to recognize that all the world has to offer leads us further into sin, taking us away from God and His loving plan for us. We are to, instead, seek Christ and live in accord with all He has commanded us so that we might be an example of His grace and mercy to the world. Not only are we to flee from sinful temptations, but we are to reject worldly ideologies that seem to be useful but accomplish nothing in drawing us closer to Christ.

Paul warns the church against “philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world…” (2:8). This warning is crucial because such philosophies have “…an appearance of wisdom…” but “…are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh” (2:23). In other words, there is a risk of falling prey to worthless ideologies that appear to have some value in a Christian’s life but instead is detrimental to his spiritual growth. It is necessary for the Christian to be so steeped in the word of God that he can discern the difference between that which is Christlike and that which is of the world. This is because the clear teachings of Scripture “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). The Scriptures open our eyes to what is godly and expose what is worldly. They inform the heart and mind, transforming hearts, so that, as Paul wrote to the Colossians, Christians would be “filled with the knowledge of his will…so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord…” (1:9). It is through the knowledge of the word of God, illuminated by the power of the Holy Spirit, that the Christian can recognize that the ideologies of the world are worthless and empty.

There is a real danger for the Christian to be caught up in the thinking and attitudes of the world. It is far too tempting to see the outward appearance of positive change and progress (as the world defines it) and think that there is merit in what the world is doing. The problem is that we cannot allow the outward appearances of the world to become the dividing line by which we determine if ideologies and behaviors are beneficial to the Christian walk. Whether the source of these ideas and actions is religious, secular, political, or some combination thereof, the Christian must be desirous of examining them under the harsh light of Scripture. If they do not line up with God’s word, if they run afoul of the precepts and commands of Christ, then they are to be rejected. It matters not if they appear to gain some outward accomplishments, they are divorced from Christ.

The church must seek to hold fast to Christ, “from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows from a growth that is from God” (2:19). Genuine growth is that which conforms the life of a Christian to Christ regardless of what is happening in the world around him. Such growth finds its joy and peace in being more like the Savior over and above achieving something “great” as defined by the world. The life of the Christian, the determination of “success” in the church, is not found in what the world finds valuable. It is determined solely on the commitment to fix one’s eyes on Christ, to “seek the things that are above” in each and every circumstance, and to trust that God’s plans and purposes are of eternal and infinite value. Only here will the Christian find the strength to live in a world that is at war with Christ while yet looking forward to our eternal rest waiting for us in the age to come.

This article is also published on X.comX.com.