We Must Ascend to the Heights Like Eagles—and Remain There!

We Must Ascend to the Heights Like Eagles—and Remain There!

“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. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Col. 3:1-3.

The intention is that we are to be in this position from the time we are born again and to continue there for the rest of our lives. When we have been raised with Christ, we can truly say that we have ascended to the heights like eagles, lifted high above this world where people are busy living according to their lusts. Our thoughts turn more and more to what is heavenly, to those things that have eternal value, namely, how I can be made like Christ.

Most people have their thoughts on earthly things from morning to night. They are plagued by worries, greed, jealousy, envy, honor seeking, etc. Think what a grace it is to ascend to the heights like eagles and see everything from that perspective. Far below on the earth, I can notice someone saying or doing something towards me that I consider to be unrighteous. Then I should think: “What significance does what he said have? What will it matter in a year? In a month? Next week?” Probably very little, or maybe not at all! When I have been raised with Christ the word of God will come to me, for example, what is written in 1 Pet. 3:13: “And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?” Then what the other person said or did is none of my business. Soaring above in the heights like eagles, I’m only concerned with my own business, and that is to do what is good.

In this way, I partake of divine nature, and am also better equipped to help my fellow man. We can hear some people say: “But I can’t put up with such injustice!” “We must fight for righteousness!” Yes, that may be true, especially in cases where we notice children or young people being subjected to an injustice that is completely unfair. Then we should intervene and do what we can to help them so that they don’t suffer and get hurt. However, if the injustice is committed against me, then I should find comfort and help in the word, for example, in 1 Cor. 6:7: “Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?”

I have to be willing to take up my cross and deny myself. Suffering wrong is one of the worst things for the flesh. On the other hand, when I hate the flesh, I am willing to suffer in the flesh to be finished with sin. Imagine how good it is to enter into these sufferings, fully convinced that I am going to be finished with what I hate. We enter the kingdom of God through many tribulations and, in this way, sufferings will cease.

As an added bonus, I avoid the problems and sufferings that arise in family life or the brotherhood when I am focused on “my rights.” These are sufferings that don’t lead to glory but, on the contrary, they result in broken relationships in the home and in the church. Let us fight the good fight of faith, and always seek what is above, so that we remain in the heights like eagles.