Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. – Colossians 3:1

As believers, we are often reminded of the importance of our identity in Christ. In Colossians 3:1, Paul writes, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” This means that when we accept Christ as our Lord and personal savior, we die to our old self and rise to His righteousness, which is not of this world. We become citizens of Heaven, even though earth is our present dwelling place. As citizens of Heaven, Paul urges us to constantly fixate our eyes on things above and not the things of this world. We are called to eagerly anticipate our reunion with Christ in His Kingdom and live with an eternal perspective.

In a world that is constantly vying for our attention, it’s easy to get caught up in the here and now. We worry about our jobs, our families, our finances. And while these things are important, they are not ultimate. Paul is calling us to focus on the things that truly matter – the things that will last for eternity. Our principles must be heavenly principles, we must endeavor to do things that have heavenly values – we must live in love, compassion, generosity, mercy and justice.

So let us take Paul’s words to heart today. Let us set our hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Let us live with an eternal perspective, knowing that our true identity is found in Christ. As we do, we will begin to experience the freedom and joy that comes from living for what truly matters. May Colossians 3:1 be our guiding principle today: “Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is.”