1For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. 2For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3if indeed being clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened, not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.
6Therefore we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord; 7for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 9Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him. 10For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
11Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God, and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences. 12For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you. 14For the love of Christ compels us; because we judge thus: that one died for all, therefore all died. 15He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.
16Therefore we know no one according to the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. 17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. 18But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Seek the Things that Are Above
Gazing Up at the Moon in a Field
I have some startling news for you. Reader, you no longer belong to you. You were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). You now belong to Jesus. You were crucified with Christ, meaning as a believer, you have died to self. Paul gives explicit instructions on what you are to do now, having been raised together with Christ. You are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), so what does that mean? You must center your life around God’s agenda, and that should take precedence over your own agenda. That means first, you must redirect your thoughts to the “things that are above”. Those things are those which God is doing in the spiritual realm. Paul fleshes this out in Philippians chapter four when he instructs,
8 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8 WEB)
When you focus your mind on those things, it will automatically remove your thoughts from “things that are on the earth” —the baser things. You will begin to see people as God sees them. Instead of looking at them with a critical eye, you will see them more and more with the mind of Christ. As a pastor, people sometimes criticize me, saying, “You just aren’t able to see the bad in people.” They couldn’t be more wrong about that. I can see the bad in people, but when I put on the mind of Christ, I think I see them as God does. I see all that they can or could be if they submit themselves to God’s transformational power. I guess I see them as the best version of themselves. Perhaps I err on that side, but I’d rather make those sorts of errors than to be suspicious of each and every move of those around me. It’s easy to see others' faults. It’s hard to see our own faults. Your life begins to be hidden with Christ when you start to see what God is doing around you, including in the people with whom you come into contact. Reader, today focus on the things above. Be hidden in Christ Jesus.