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  • Writer's pictureAlan Fong

Dead and Alive

Today’s Verse:

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

 

Federal authorities have a most-wanted list of dangerous criminals. The signage will include the name, pictures, and crimes committed by this person. The top of the most-wanted signage would read, “Wanted: Dead or Alive.” Our text, Col. 3:1-3, teaches us that God wants us both dead and alive if we are to experience the victorious Christian life on a daily basis.

We see a crucified PERFORMANCE.

“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” The victorious Christian life is one where the flesh must be put to death daily. Something that is dead has no more life in it. It ceases to function. The ability for continuance to exist is no longer possible. There is no more breathing, no more ingesting, no more brain activity, no more blood circulation, and no more heart beat. The first thing about a victorious Christian life is that we must crucify the flesh and die to self. Dying to self enables us to quench the desire to sin. Dying to self means I no longer am living for myself. We find our life and completeness in Christ. Our life is hid with Christ in God. The more we die to self and learn more of Christ, the less our flesh is a hindrance to victory.

We see a commanded PURSUIT.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” A risen life in Christ occurs at the moment we are saved. Like Lazarus, we must come out of the tomb, take off the old grave clothes, and begin to live. In other words, we are walking away from a life of bondage to sin. A risen life pursues things that please God. A risen life is a prayerful life. A risen life is a prioritized life. Seeking things above means we seek to accomplish God’s will on earth as it is done in heaven. A risen life is a people life. We seek to get the gospel to people and see them trust Christ as Savior. We are not really living until we seek those things which are above.

We see a committed PASSION.

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” A risen life is in love with the Lord and the things that please Him. We are eternally-minded and not earthly-minded. I believe this is what Paul calls laying hold of eternal life in I Tim. 6:12. It means we are living to advance the glory of God. I believe it is what Jude calls keeping yourself in the love of God. Do you love to serve? Do you love to give? Do you love to do good? Do you love to spend time in the presence of the Lord? Do you love to witness? If your answer is yes, you are setting your affection on things above.

We see a completed PERFECTION.

“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” A resurrected life is one that has a constant priority. A resurrected life is one that has a coming prospect. This prospect is when we leave this life and receive our glorified bodies. We have the blessed hope of Christ’s coming for us at the Rapture. As we are being raptured, we are immediate recipients of immortal and incorruptible bodies. We shall be changed into the same likeness as our Lord. “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself,” Phil. 3:21.

A risen life is one that is both dead and alive. It is dead to the former life, and alive in the power of our Lord. Practice the essence of a risen life and live in the victory that Jesus gives us.

Have a resurrected God Morning!

Bible Reading Schedule: 1 Samuel 21-24

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