"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."

                                                                                                Colossians 3:1

       I find this to be a very intriguing statement. What could Paul possibly be referring to that we are to seek those things which are above where Christ sits? What exists where Christ sits? And how is it that we are to seek those things which exist above while living down here below?

       This is all part of the mystery of the kingdom. Every child of God needs to understand their right and privilege in seeking after heavenly things. It is not just about seeking after a life in heaven when we die, but seeking after the life of heaven while we live. When Jesus was raised up from the dead, he ascended up on high. According to Ephesians chapter two, we were raised up with him and made to sit together with him in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). Although we are alive and living down here below, we are very much alive and living up above. We have a life in God that now enables us to access heaven. Even the scriptures bear this out by encouraging us to come boldly to the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16).

       Part of our spiritual life is a life of engagement. Paul said, "...it is no longer I that liveth, but Christ which liveth in me" (Gal. 2:20). Christ ascended to the right hand of God, and yet we know that Christ lives in our hearts. Just as surely as he is above and lives in each of us here below, we exist here below and yet we live in him above! Our position in Christ means we are seated with him. The more we understand our dual existence that we are here and yet we are there, then the more engaged we will become between both worlds.       

       We have a duty to fulfill. Jesus called himself the bread of life which came down from heaven. He kept emphasizing over and over again that he was from above. This was not just to announce that he pre-existed in heaven and came down to take upon himself flesh. This was a part of his engagement. He was identifying with his vital connection to heaven by declaring that his mission was to bring heaven to earth. That same mission has been passed along to each of us. We are to seek those things which are above in order to live the life of heaven down here below. In other words, we are to be carriers of heaven. Our job as believers is for us to live so engaged with heaven that we become a heavenly influence to life here on earth.

       There are forces we face every day that try to interrupt this life of engagement. That is why it is so important to renew our minds to think like heaven thinks. Part of this renewal process is purging out the thought that we are only earthly. As long as we remain confined to a life that lives strictly by the senses, always consulting the flesh and making it our reality, then we will never be much of a heavenly influence in this world. We have to rise above our identity as being merely earthly, and realize we are also heavenly. We have to let God's Word become our reality. We have to see ourselves as being in this world but not of this world. We are called citizens of heaven. We are of the household of faith. Once we become completely engaged in this kind of lifestyle, then and only then can we bring heaven to bear upon the souls of those who are disengaged with the ascended life.