Higher Ground
Paul wrote to the church at Colossae, and in that letter in chapter 3, he says, 1Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. In case you didn’t’ know, this life is fleeting and the world is constantly changing. Most of the time those changes are not good but fall short of what should be because of sin. So if we trust in the world, we fall way short of the life we should be living because we are trusting in something that will one day fade away. But the Word of God lives forever and those who trust in God will live forever as well. Colossians 1:5 says 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel. Our hope is in the Lord and our foundation is in His Word. When scripture tells us to live our lives dependent on the hope that God promises in His Word. WE LIVE OUR LIVES ON THAT HOPE!!
The lower ground is always easy to find and it is no stretch for us or anyone. But the Higher Ground is only found by putting our trust in Jesus Christ and Him alone. Paul said it all when he said to keep “seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” So if you are ever wondering where Christ is, this scripture pretty much clears that up. In fact, Jesus is our advocate (def.publicly recommend or support:) and in 1 John 2:1 he says, My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; Jesus Christ, the righteous is the way to Higher Ground and there is no other way than Him. The advocacy of Jesus is all we need to reach that Higher Ground and our lives are hidden in Christ as verse 3 says, 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. The New Living Translation says it this way. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
For the believer, the real-life is a life that is continuously moving toward that Higher Ground. The world will continue to search for meaning and the only meaning that is true is what is found in Christ. As Paul writes to the Colossians 5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
Our life is a lot more livable if we are looking at things from a much higher vantage point or Higher Ground. Soar like an eagle and let the winds of trouble just boost you to higher heights as your life in Christ enables you to live above the din or madness in our world today. Isaiah 40:31 says But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles, They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. There it is!!! HIGHER GROUND!
The Pilgrimage continues…
David Warren