IN, but not OF … Colossians 3.1-3

In, but not Of . . .  Colossians 3.1-3

Good Day~ 

“Being IN the world, but not OF it” is quite a challenge, but oh so very important if our lives are to be right in Christ.  It was Jesus’ prayer for us before he went to the cross – that we may be in the world, but not of the world.¹  Paul instructs us to ‘think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth…’ because this life is fleeting, whereas our hereafter is eternal.  Always with one eye cast toward Heaven, we then establish our priorities accordingly.  “Christians who did the most for the present age were those who thought the most of the next,” C.S. Lewis wrote.²   But, do things we think about, do our daily activities suggest we live for today--‘storing up treasures for this world’, or rather that we are storing up ‘treasures in Heaven where moths and rust cannot destroy--’³ as Jesus taught us?  Hmmm … what things do you do on a daily basis that will last forever? 

The things of Heaven are those which are of Christ, which Paul said to fix our minds upon – those things which are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and of good repute . . . on these things, we are to think.⁴

Do you want to please God with your life?  Want to have joy?  Obey.   Be IN the world, but not OF it.  Paul said, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”  verses 1-3

My friends, we are challenged to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”⁵   Paul is not suggesting we extract ourselves from everyone or everything that does not profess the name of Christ, rather that we stay in relationship with those who have not yet come to know him, without our values becoming once again those of the world, who does not know Christ  . . . so that we are indeed we are IN the world, but not OF it.  God has called Christians to play a role by celebrating what’s good and true and beautiful, working for change in what isn’t, and looking forward in hope to God’s redemption of all things.⁶

We’re to be morally and spiritually distinct without being culturally segregated.⁶   Aye, you and I are to be IN the world, but not OF it.

Christine

1 – John 17

2 – quoted in Don Eberly, Restoring the Good Society: A New Vision for Politics and Culture, p.80

3 – Matthew 6.20

4 – Philippians 4.8

5 – Colossians 1.10

6 – Tullian Tchividjian, Unfashionable – Making a Difference in the World by being Different, Multnomah Books, 2012