The noise of our culture can, if we let it, turn our lives into a barely controlled panic. Life can start to feel like a run down the cattle chute, blindly following the one directly in front of us, never stopping for fear of the cattle prod. No idea where we’re going but too afraid to stop. The freedom of Jesus is the opposite of this blind death march down the cattle chute.

The freedom we have in Jesus actually begins in death, it moves us from death into the freedom of a new and resurrected life. Let’s consider this passage from Colossians today.

Therefore,

Instead of looking forward to death and all around us to pain, we are told to leave death behind and look up to life. We have already died with Christ and our new life is hidden with Him in God. Not only do we need to look up, we need to seek the things we find there.

What do we find in heaven? God and His eternal Son Jesus, life, peace, love, hope, joy, in short eternal things. These things are very unlike the things of earth which are all passing away at best, and at worst, actively destroying us. Most of all we need to stay focused on Christ who is literally our life and our only hope. In Him we have life both now and eternally, so He is and must always be our focus.

So what does a focus like this produce and inspire in us? Let’s read on:

So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth:

The response to the offer of eternal life in Christ is to turn away from those things that are of this earth and are destroying us. The list of vices above is all too familiar and has not changed in any way since the first sin captured our hearts. These are the reasons the earth and all those focused on this present life and selfish desires fall under the wrath of God. This is our common experience, but it does not have to be our common destiny.

We have a new life in Christ but this reality leaves us with a choice to make. Will we continue in our self-serving, idolatrous, and wicked ways? Or, will we embrace the new life that Christ has given us through His death and resurrection? This life is a gift and it is available to all regardless of race or social status. Our new life is created in the image of God. The old labels have become meaningless.

We live in a world that is constantly dividing itself into groups: nations, skin colors, ideologies, political parties, genders, the list is endless and getting longer. But in Christ the real truth is these labels and affiliations are all irrelevant, in Christ we are all recreated and growing into the image of God. We are one because there is only one Christ. There is only one God. There is only one family. Our old ways and our old labels and affiliations are dead.

This week lets once again commit to embrace reality and walk according to our true identity in Christ. Let’s keep our eyes up and focused on the author of life rather than the noise of confusion and death that surrounds us. This week let’s commit to speaking life to each other rather than repeating the fear and despair that this passing world is drowning in. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

Have a great week!