The world is in chaos with the reversal of the financial markets, earthquakes, storms and other calamities. It is like labour pains upon a pregnant woman. The signs are becoming more and more intense and closer together. What are we to do? How are we to live in this chaotic world? The Bible gives us clues on how to live with confidence in a chaotic world.

1 – Set your heart on things above

We are to continue to do it. We are to pursue the things of Heaven. The psychologist tells us to look within. The opportunist tells us to look around. The optimist tells us to look ahead. The pessimist tells us we should look out! God tells us to look up! We are to seek God’s perspective. See Philippians 3:20. It is our citizenship.

2 – Set your mind on Heaven

It is not that we forget planet Earth! We have to deal with earthly things. We are also citizens of Earth but we shouldn’t lose our focus. See Psalm 62:10. Don’t set your heart on riches that increase but don’t last forever. It is like when we go overseas for holiday. We are in another country but we keep our clock on home time. We need to centre our lives on God. See Psalm 73:25.

• Stay centred on your identity with Christ (vs. 1). Why? Since you were raised with Christ. Christ was dead, buried and rose on high. The same has already happened figuratively and will happen actually in the future. He is the head of salvation. We participate in what he did. We are crucified with Christ. See Galatians 2:20. We were buried with Christ. See Romans 6:4. We are raised together with Christ. See Colossians 3:1. We are seated together with Christ. See Romans 6:4-5. It is a brand new life!
• Stay centred on your authority with Christ (vs. 1-2). Jesus Christ is now seated at the right-hand of God. See Ephesians 1:20-23. Jesus is in Heaven and in control of everything. There is no need for us to panic or worry.
• Stay centred on your security with Christ (vs. 3). Our life is hidden with Christ in God. We know we have eternal safety in this life. We have a double lock. See John 10:28-30. I might go into the fire but God is with me. There is secrecy in this security. Non-believers don’t understand the Bible. The Bible is not secret to the believer.
• Stay centred on your destiny with Christ (vs. 4). See 1 John 3:2. The time of revealing is coming. Jesus will return. The secret will become public! The goals and hopes we have in this life will always disappoint. There is a deeper hope that will not fail. It is hope in someone and not something. We can put our hope in Jesus Christ. He never disappoints. While we fail, He never fails. He is the same, no matter what.

3 – How can I stay centred on Christ?

• By your insistence on priorities – See Matthew 6:33. When we are narrow then we can be strong. When we are fixed then we have courage. We will do our duty. We are not afraid of evil. It requires a strong mentality.
• By your interest in the Word of God – In a crisis, you want to try and figure it out yourself. See Luke 10:41-42. Martha was missing out on the Word of God. Mary got her priorities right. There’s nothing wrong with taking care of life’s responsibilities, of course. But if we are ignoring the Word of God, then something is amiss—and the imbalance will show up in our lives in some way. The Bible is the living Word of God. Read and learn this book. Keep on learning!
• By your investment of your treasure – See Matthew 6:19-21. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The connection between our treasure and our heart is one that cannot be ignored. Jesus said not to accumulate material treasures here on earth but rather treasures in Heaven which will never be destroyed or stolen.

Categories: Colossians