We should strive, in our daily lives, to seek what is above, not what is below. In Colossians 3: 1-2, we read, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Essentially this is a teaching on how we need to assess the vulgarity of culture that bombards our vision from day to day. There are cultural signs apparent in our media that we should shut off from our eyes and ears if we are to fulfill this command from Jesus Christ. The vulgarity of language in popular music, the display and glorification of violence and gang culture in entertainment, fashion, television shows and YouTube videos is just an example of the things we need to assess daily. As a Christian who strives to be more like Christ, seeking things above, do you really need to listen to a musical artist who is flashing guns, degrading women and promoting gang culture? People will defend such “entertainment” as art that describes reality for some people. But if you are in Christ, we are encouraged to seek more, to strive for things above. The Ascension of Christ to Heaven is an event that should shape our decisions on earth, “When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.” (Luke 24: 50-53) Surely on earth today we find poverty, illness, injustice and misery of every kind. Our aim should be to rise above that to achieve unity with Christ and His creation. A practical way to approach this is to fill “our Holy Temples” (ie our minds) with things that are from above: justice, beauty, love, creation and abundance. Seek ye the good things to absorb into your consciousness and then do that daily; the results will be astounding if you persist in faith.
Seek the Highest Good
