Larry Reynolds, Denton, TX

Colossians 3:1-4 - "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in Glory."

These verses remind us that the Christian life is a life of separation from the world. As a result of our union with Christ, we are to “...keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” (verse 1) Also, we are to “Set [our] mind on the things above, not on the things that are one earth.” (verse 2)  D.L. Moody, the great preacher, was fond of saying these verses do not mean that Christians are to be “So heavenly minded that they are no earthly good...” To be separated from the world does not mean that Christians go around with their heads in the clouds, shirking the duties and responsibilities of this life. Nor does it mean that there is something inherently evil about enjoying life in this world. Instead, it means that we live our lives in the full awareness that this world is not all there is. And as we live that way, two things will happen in our lives: 

1. We will not blindly and thoughtlessly adopt the standards of the world as our personal standards. 
2. We will keep the events of life in proper perspective and not over-react to what is happening around us. When we understand that there is more to our existence than just this world, when we grasp that there is a whole other dimension to life --a spiritual dimension--then we are much less likely to be overwhelmed by the events of this life.