Let Heaven Fill Your Thoughts

Ephesians 2:4-7 (NLT)
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, 5 that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s special favor that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms—all because we are one with Christ Jesus. 7 And so God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus.

Did you realize that God raised you from the dead (if you are in Christ) and spiritually seated you in the heavenly place with Christ? What in the world does this mean? If I am honest I don’t have a clue as to what that means. Somehow God has shown his mercy toward me (and mankind) and made me spiritually alive. I was once dead (nekros) in my trespasses (see definition below) and God gave me life when he raised Christ from the dead.

3498 nekros { nek-ros’}
from an apparently primary nekus (a corpse); TDNT – 4:892,627; adj
AV – dead 132; 132
GK – 3738 { νεκρός }
1) properly
1a) one that has breathed his last, lifeless
1b) deceased, departed, one whose soul is in Hades
1c) destitute of life, without life, inanimate
2) metaph.
2a) spiritually dead
2a1) destitute of a life that recognizes and is devoted to God, because given up to trespasses and sins
2a2) inactive as respects doing right
2b) destitute of force or power, inactive, inoperative

What does that mean for us? I like what Paul says over in Colossians 3:1-3 (NLT)1Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power. 2 Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. 3 For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. Because we are been raised to a new life we should let heaven fill our thoughts and not think only about things down here. Notice he did not say “don’t think about thing down here on earth” but rather “do not think only about things down here (and every employer breathes a sigh of relief.) There are still things to be built, analysis to be done, people to be managed. Most us get paid to do something other than think about heaven. So spend some time thinking about your responsibilities but why not also let heaven fill your thoughts. Try to do that for a while! It could change your life!