How do you feel when you look at everything that is going on around the world – both locally and overseas? The crimes here in Australia – the machete attacks in suburban shopping centres – the tobacco stores being burned down – the crimes – the state of the economy. Or overseas with the wars, the tariffs, It’s so easy to become disheartened wondering what on earth is God doing. It’s so easy to shut yourself off from the rest of the world and just hide in your own little corner.
Paul gives great advice for us to deal with all that’s going on around the world that concerns us. He says –
If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
What does Paul mean by that?
We need to link this understanding to what Paul says in Romans 6 where he says: Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Life today is not much different to that of Paul’s days – it’s just more modern. The anguish however was the same. So Paul discovered that he would remember that life on earth is not the place God has prepared for him.
He says in Philippians 3 – But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. Remember what Paul said in our reading? Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Christ is not absent from the world. He is ruling the world from the right hand of God. Perhaps it doesn’t look that way as we live out our daily lives. But Paul reminds us that what we see is not the true reality for Christians.
We are citizens of heaven. So Paul says – your life is hidden with Christ in God. And it’s a life that is hidden with glory. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. And that’s what our life is about – waiting. Waiting for our Lord to return to bring us to our eternal home where we will live in God’s glory with no more suffering or death.
Paul sees our Baptism as an exit from this life already. Notice he speaks in the present tense – not a future event. For you HAVE died – and your life is NOW hidden with Christ. Life might not look any different but Pauls say – When Christ returns then HIS glory will be revealed and also YOUR glory will be revealed at the same time. Notice that he says it will be revealed – not received at that time.
You have a life filled with glory NOW – you’ve had it since the day your Baptism when you were made a child of God. So it’s not about ignoring the world we live in – no. We have been sent into the world to share the Gospel with the world. The great commission says – go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
And Jesus is with us as he says in his high priestly prayer to his heavenly Father in John 17: My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
So as we go out into the world we will be challenged by all the things happening in the world around us. So, Paul says – focus on the things above not on earthly things. The things of this life are passing as Jesus says – heaven and earth will pass away but my words never will. And so in our Gospel reading Jesus tells a parable about a rich person who was so successful that he focused only on his earthly life and forgot about his spiritual health and relationship with God.
He had so much earthly success he didn’t know what to do with all his wealth. I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, `Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’
Notice his focus – I will pull down – my barns, I will store my grain and my goods – I will say to my soul. But how did God respond? You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?
It is very tempting to focus on earthly things – whether they be pleasures that comfort us – indulgences that focus us away from God – or sufferings that don’t recognise that God’s love is present with us. So Paul warns: Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).
These thing will weigh us down. But thanks be to God that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God both watching over us and ruling the world that seems against us. Never lose faith in God that he is in control even if it does not look that way.
Paul reminds us that the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. God does not want to do that as St Peter reminds us that the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
So until Jesus returns, remember you Baptism where you were born again to new life to live with God forever. And when Christ returns – your true glory will be revealed and you will be brought to your eternal home forever.
