S89P1 – The good death: earthly things

Col. 3:1-7

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. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore, put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

For a child his age, this was quite a dilemma.  He had walked to the park holding his favorite ball and only toy, a large sphere which was about half his size.  It was not always easy for him to play with that ball considering his size and his tiny little hands, but it was all he had.  Then, another child at the park approached him with something new.  This toy was more than just a plain ball, and it seemed like it would be a lot of fun.  The problem was that he could not try that new toy without first letting go of that prized ball.  His worry was that this new toy would not be as fulfilling, and he would lose that old faithful ball for nothing. 

We enter this world only knowing earthly things.  That which lies above is foreign to us.  In my experience, the delay in my accepting Jesus Christ rested in the comfort of remaining with my earthly things.  I was not happy, but It was the life I knew and to which I had grown accustomed.  The problem was that I could not live that life and also be part of God’s heavenly kingdom.  I had to lay down that life for something I did not know.  That can be a great stumbling block for those who never have imagined that life can be different.  The only way to get there, however, is to let go of everything we hold dear and empty our hands and our arms so that we can grab hold of the only eternal lifeline available.  After that, it is a continual process of putting those earthly things to death.

The irony is that I was afraid to take a risk which was no risk at all.  The things I dropped to run to Jesus were bringing me death and bondage.  They were keeping me from growing instead of making me fruitful.  We pass by people every day who are in that spot, who are bound for destruction.  They are where we once were, and even though they might hope for something greater, many of them never entertain that it can be possible.  Perhaps we should ask God to let us have a hand in showing them otherwise.  Father, lead us to those who are bound to their earthly things, and give us the words to tell them of what lies above in heaven for them.