Raised With Christ

Raised With Christ

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Most people are like the serpent; they crawl on their belly and eat dust. Gen. 3:14. What we read in Ephesians 2:4-7 is a glorious experience by comparison: “And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His goodness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

Imagine what a redemption that is: to be raised with Christ and to know that in the ages to come He will show all His riches in goodness toward us.

When we read about the days of Noah and Lot we can see that the people’s whole interest was in earthly things. They were occupied with many earthly activities until they were taken away. Both Jesus and the apostles warn us against this, having God’s wrath in mind that will go over the whole earth. “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life . . . .” Luke 21:34.

There is also much activity in our days. It is easy to borrow money and to buy on credit. It is easy to get some money with which to start a business and to be given a lot of work that demands your full mental concentration. You consider yourself a Christian, yet you are not seated in heavenly places. Your heart is weighed down by all this earthly activity. You do not have any spiritual nourishment to give, either to your family or to the church.

Paul did not consider it superfluous to exhort his faithful co-worker to be content with what he had, to flee the love of money, and to pursue the virtues of Christ. Then he would not go astray, neither would he pierce himself through with many sorrows. Then he would come to such a great glory at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ that he could not even imagine it. 1 Tim. 6:6-16.