… set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Summary: Bridging the language barrier between our world and Paul’s is not always easy or straightforward. Sometimes, we have to think hard about what he is saying.
It is interesting how my mind plays tricks on me.
You can play tricks on your mind, too. The funny thing is that the mind is pretty good at tricks. Take, for example, the ltetres in teshe wdors. Did you nitoce that they are all mxied up? Even though the letters are mixed up, most of you reading this will still be able to sort out what the words are.
The same thing happens with word order in a sentence. Our sees mind the words and somehow straightens out them.
That can be a good thing, but it can also accidentally change the meanings.
Paul’s full sentence reads, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”
Now, I don’t know about you, but my little brain has tried to re-wire that sentence to mean “set your hearts on things above, meaning Christ.”
After all, what “things” are above? I think that is where the short circuit occurred. When I get to the part of the sentence that reads “things above,” I don’t know what to insert for a placeholder.
Maybe we should take a look at the original Greek?
A good resource for this task is to use the Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament. I am going to include a screenshot of the passage here because the formatting of the text is very special.
In the reverse interlinear, the Greek and English words are written side by side. In this particular translation, the English words are used to determine the order of the words.
Notice that when the text gets to the part where it says, “seek the things above,” there is no Greek word for “things.”
Isn’t that interesting?!
How would you translate “… seek the — above”?
Maybe my brain was on the right track after all when it tried to equate “things above” with “where Christ is.”
The word “things” generally means something of a material nature. Angels, for example, are not “things.” They are “beings.” Do angels have “things” in heaven? Do they go home after their shift of watching over us to relax on their recliner and watch some TV?
Not likely.
I suspect that where Paul was going with this statement was something like the translation given in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC):
“If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”
Application: Keep your eyes on Jesus, and you won’t go wrong.
Food for Thought: Using the AMPC translation as a guide, what kind of “things” would you expect to look for where Christ is?
Thanks for the devotion brother. I like the use of the reverse interlinear and the amplified Bible. Very interesting.
As for the question, I guess I would not expect to find the same values and priorities of the world. I would not expect to be enamored with the material trappings of the world that tend to diminish my walk with Christ. I would expect my attention to be squarely on Christ, seeking Him, serving Him, loving Him, glorifying Him, praising Him and blessing others in His name. I would expect the distractions to fade away.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace
Thank you, Rich!
I love the hymn you mention. It captures the essence of Paul’s thought nicely. 🙂
Using the AMPC translation as a guide, what kind of “things” would you expect to look for where Christ is?
As a young boy on the farm, I would finish all my chores, grab my .22 rifle and head into the mountains for time to myself. Alone, away from the hustle and bustle, noise of this world, I would sit in the shade and enjoy the quiet as the forest around me would slowly come alive, and would become filled with an abundance of life I had not seen while making noise as I walked in it.
Gods creation takes time and a quiet spirit to truly experience. I believe all believers will spend all eternity in awe of and in service to our Creator God who is beyond our comprehension. Which is as He has ordained.
Psalm 46:10, Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.” AMPC
1 Corinthians 2:9, But, on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed]. AMPC
Thank you, Ron.
I LOVE the word picture you paint of the small boy headed into the woods. I don’t know if I ever stopped moving long enough to experience the woods “coming alive” the way you describe.
There are a lot of parallels to that in the spiritual realm. Psalm 46:10 is a great verse that points us to the same kind of thing you are talking about.
Thank you so much for sharing today!
Psalm 46:10, Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth! AMPC
Exactly! Great verse and I think this will occupy my time for several thousand earth years!!!!
LOL!!
What a wonderful way to spend your first few millennia in heaven!
Thank you, brother! 🙂