Barometer of the Heart

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Col. 3:1-3 NIV)

I have just completed a lengthy and one-sided conversation with my 15 year-old son concerning an electronic device which I have taken away from him for the umpteenth time. I have found this electronic device to be somewhat of a barometer revealing where my son is spiritually, as well as in his maturity. It has divulged his position regarding honesty, obedience, integrity, not to mention honor of his parents and others.

The truth is that we all have our own barometers which reveal where we really are in our walk with Christ. It may be a car, or a boat, or clothing. It could be a certain job, or a dream, or even a relationship which reveals how submissive we are to the will of God, or how stubborn we are in attaining our own will and not God's. Heaven forbid that God would actually say "no" to our having our heart's desires, asking us to defer to His will and timing. The "thing" is not the issue; the heart is!

Should that "thing" be taken away from you and me, what will our response be? Will we pine forever until it is replaced, or will we shrug and simply return to our Bible and prayer time. Should God allow us to have certain possessions or relationships, how will we react once these things or people are taken from us? Our first reaction tells us exactly where we are in our relationship with Christ Jesus. Are our hearts indeed set on things above, or on things of this earth? For the person who has his or her life in godly order, things are merely tools for living life, and people are to be loved and enjoyed for as long as God allows, as we give thanks to Him fully for each and every one.

As I told my son, I believe that everything we need--past, present and future--has been taken and hidden in Jesus Christ. If we need it, He has it for us as we seek Him, His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). For our own benefit, we know that anything that God provides is safe and suitable for our subsistence on this earth. Anything that we have to go and get for ourselves without God's approval will be harmful for us and our families. Thus, if all we ever did was to set our minds on things of heaven where Christ sits enthroned, then we know that our needs would be met according to "His glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). It is there, on Christ Jesus, where our minds and hearts should be set. In contrast with Him, everything else becomes impertinent and unimportant.

What are your possessions and relationships telling you? Let us each resolve to set our minds on things of heaven, and not on things of this earth.