“God’s Grace Focuses Our Vision”
Colossians 3:1-4
As God’s children, we used to be in the dark and we were blinded by the forces of darkness, but when we received God’s grace we received the light and now we are able to see. Now that we are able to see, we are encouraged to focus our vision on what really matters.
Colossians 3:1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 3:2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, 3:3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 3:4 When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.
First, we focus our minds on things in heaven because we are already dead and buried with Christ.
Dead people are no longer interested in the things that living people do. But sometimes people may pretend that they are already dead so that they will no longer face their obligations.
A criminal was hunted by the authorities and he was almost to be pinned downed. In order to escape his captors, he took a dead body from the morgue and set it on fire. But before he burned the corpse, he placed his ring on the finger of the corpse so that the authorities will identify the body as belonging to him. For many years he was able to evade arrest because the authorities thought he was already dead, but later he was discovered by a neighbor who reported him to the authorities. Pretending to be dead will not last because some where somehow the natural thing will come out.
God’s children used to be very much alive when it comes to sin, but the grace of God changed our situation. We are no longer interested in the things of this world. Although we use the things of this world for our daily needs, we do not love them. We do not allow our tempers to rise on account of material things.
Several years ago, a farmer went out to inspect his rice field at night to see if the water from the irrigation canal was watering his field. To his surprise, his field was dry because someone closed the passage of the water going to his field. He waited in the dark for the person responsible for removing the water from his field. When it was already dawn, he noticed a shadow coming closer. Because it was still dark, he did not recognize who it was, but he saw that the person was removing the barrier so that no one would know that he was stealing water from the other field. When the farmer saw that his water was being stolen, he jumped upon the unsuspecting person with his bolo and instantly killed him. After killing the person, the farmer went back to his house and went to bed. The next day, the whole community was shocked to see the body of a man killed in the rice field. When the dead man was brought to the barangay hall, they found out that it was the brother in law of the farmer. He was killed while stealing water from his neighbor. The farmer was filled with remorse when he knew that he had killed his brother in law, but it was too late.
Things of this world can distract us and possibly bring us away from God if we do not consider ourselves as dead and hidden in Christ. The enemy of our souls will try to entice us with the things of this world so that we will not be able to experience the joy of being God’s children.
Corrie Ten Boom in the book, Reflections of god’s Glory (page 69), wrote, “In Africa a man came to a meeting with bandaged hands. I asked him how he had been injured. He said, “My neighbor’s straw roof was on fire; I helped him to put it out and that’s how my hands were burned.
“Later I heard the whole story. The neighbor hated him and had set his roof on fire while his wife and children were asleep in the hut. They were in great danger. Fortunately, he was able to put out the fire in his house on time. But sparks flew over to the roof of the man who had set the house on fire and his house started to burn. There was no hate in the heart of this Christian; there was love for his enemy and he did everything he could to put out the fire in his neighbor’s house. That is how his own hands were burned.”
Second, we focus our minds and hearts on things above because our life and glory comes from there. There is nothing in this world that can give us lasting glory because everything is temporary. Two weeks ago, some Filipinos were on the list of the richest persons in the world. But that list will change in the years ahead because others will be included while others will be removed. Howard Hughes was one of the richest persons in history, but his riches did not bring him honor and glory. In fact, he died as a lonely man with no friends.
Political power cannot give us lasting glory and honor. As president of the republic, Pinoy is the most powerful man in the country. He can order anyone under his authority to do as he pleases. He can do anything his heart would desire because he is immune from suit while he is in power. But perhaps he is also the most frustrated person in the country because he cannot be in all places at the same time, he cannot see everything all at once and he cannot make any decision without the concurrence of the legislative and judicial branches of government. And when his term ends next year, he is just an ordinary person just like us. God's children may be insignificant in the eyes of the world today, and we may not be recognized, but when Jesus comes, we will share his glory and honor forever.
Our hope of glory and honor comes with Jesus when he appears in his glory. John the beloved saw this glory when he was on the Island of Patmos. Revelation 21:1-8 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist, and the sea existed no more. 21:2 And I saw the holy city – the new Jerusalem – descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband. 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Look! The residence of God is among human beings. He will live among them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them. 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more – or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist.” 21:5 And the one seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new!” Then he said to me, “Write it down, because these words are reliable and true.” 21:6 He also said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the one who is thirsty I will give water free of charge from the spring of the water of life. 21:7 The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 21:8 But to the cowards, unbelievers, detestable persons, murderers, the sexually immoral, and those who practice magic spells, idol worshipers, and all those who lie, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. That is the second death.”
Only those who are in Christ will share in his glory and honor, but those who are outside of Christ will spend eternity in dishonor and misery. St. Francis de Sales said that, “Some men become proud and insolent because they ride a fine horse, wear a feather in their hat or are dressed in a fine suit of clothes. Who does not see the folly of this? If there be any glory in such things, the glory belongs to the horse, the bird and the tailor.”
Johann Sebastian Bach was born into the musical family of Bachs in 1685. By the age of ten, both of his parents were dead. Early in his friction-filled life, young Johann determined he would write music … music for the glory of God … and this he did.
Most of Bach’s works are explicitly Biblical. Albert Schweitzer referred to him as The fifth evangelist, thus comparing him to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. At age 17 Bach became the organist at the church; soon thereafter he was given charge of the entire music ministry.
During his ministry in Weimar, Germany he wrote a new cantata every month … EVERY MONTH! And during one three-year period he wrote, conducted, orchestrated, and performed (with his choir and orchestra) a new cantata every week!
No one had any idea what a mark Bach would leave. His legacy lives on some 300 years later. You can hear his music at will.
At the beginning of every authentic manuscript one will find the letters “J.J.” This stands for Jesu Java (Jesus help me). At the end of each original manuscript you will find the letters “S.D.G.” This stands for Soli Deo Gloria (to the glory of God).
Bach is a reminder that one who gives his life to Jesus and serves Him does not count it a loss. Mk 8:35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
