Seeking That Which Is Above

Man has always set his sights on that which is above. Men
have climbed mountains, they have constructed air balloons
and other machines of flight to take them up into the sky.
They have sought to "slip the bonds" of this realm and go
beyond, even successfully to the moon. There has been a cost
in all of this, as many have paid the ultimate price: loosing
their lives in this quest. Whether it was the Apollo astronauts
who died on the launch pad in 1967, or the Challenger shuttle
crew who died in mid air in 1986, lives have been sacrificed
for this endeavor.

Sometimes this desire can be channelled in a wrong way, such
as those who sought to build ".. a tower ... unto heaven..."
(Genesis 11:4). The tower of Babel only brought destruction
and ruin upon those who constructed it, because they desired
it for their own selfish motives.

Jesus teaches us that there is a right way to seek that which
is above. He told his disciples to place their treasures above
(Matthew 6:20), and not upon the earth. One who is about this
business of laying up treasures in heaven, is one who will not be
disappointed at the outcome. The price for this has already
been paid by Jesus Christ himself.

Paul encouraged those in Colossae to do the same thing when
he wrote, "Set your affections on things above, not on things
on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ
in God." (Colossians 3:2,3)  We have died to sin and are alive
in Christ Jesus. He sits upon the throne which is in heaven.
If we then are in Christ, in His body, we are with Him in
that heavenly realm.

You see, God has provided for us to "slip the bonds" of this
realm below. He has done so in Jesus Christ. If you will give
up the ways of this world and take on the ways of Jesus Christ,
your life can be hid with Christ in heaven now, and be united
with him later for all eternity. [JW]