Heaven...

[Nick01]

“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. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:1–4).

Colossians 3:2
Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

What do you guys think about this? I would like for this to be a serious topic, seeing as how we are instructed to think. What are some things of heaven you think about? How do you think about this (what are your thoughts like, in relation to these verses) ?

Also, what does it mean to be "hidden" ?

What are the things above, and how do you view HEAVEN (where we are required to think about) ?

I hope this becomes a hot topic. I think there are a lot of things we can say and think about this.

See ya soon!

 

[musicalpilgrim]

I think about heaven more since my son died. The last couple of chapters of Revelation,
A new heaven and a new earth...

 

[Ivan Hlavanda]

“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. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:1–4).

Colossians 3:2
Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

What do you guys think about this? I would like for this to be a serious topic, seeing as how we are instructed to think. What are some things of heaven you think about? How do you think about this (what are your thoughts like, in relation to these verses) ?

Also, what does it mean to be "hidden" ?

What are the things above, and how do you view HEAVEN (where we are required to think about) ?

I hope this becomes a hot topic. I think there are a lot of things we can say and think about this.

See ya soon!

I understand this that now we are the children of God, born of the Holy Spirit, we are ought to live by the Spirit and not the flesh. Having the Holy Spirit in us enables us to understand the Word of God. Because God is Spirit, the Spirit is required to understand the Word, otherwise the Bible gives us nothing as we are dead spiritually. In the Bible, God teaches what He wants from us....to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and might, and to love our neighbour as our self.

'Set your hearts on things above' - these things include deeper knowledge of Christ, closer fellowship with Him, experience of His resurrection power, victory over sin, the development of godly virtues; the fulfilment of domestic and social responsibilities, and effective prayer life , fruitfulness in witnessing.

Christians are in this world, but not of this world. Our home is in Heaven. We are seated in Heavenly places with Christ Jesus. We are strangers in this land. We are foreigners, since our homeland is Heaven. We are to lay up our treasures in Heaven, not here on this Earth.

We should get our eyes off the circumstances which surround us on this Earth. We should keep our eyes on Jesus and Heaven. The desires of this Earth, and of our flesh, should be far from us. We should be looking to Heavenly rewards. Jesus is seated in Heaven at the right hand of the Father, because His work is done. It was done when He said, “It is finished”, on the cross.

Verse 2 - I understand is as not to be preoccupied with Earthly things. Nor are we to dwell on them. Earthly things (Houses, jobs, careers, ambitions etc.) are not wrong in themselves , but can be wrong should they become priorities above Christ. For example, if you are struggling with finances, don't make it a priority in your life, it must not stop you from preaching the Gospel. If God sends you to witness somewhere, just do it and do not worry about what you going to eat etc. for God knows of all your needs.

To be hidden in Christ - I think it means having an intimate spiritual life with Jesus and God, not something Earthly people will ever understand, for example when I told yesterday my non-Christian friend about my love to Jesus, that I cannot think about anything else. Or when I tell people that is so wonderful that Jesus can return any time, even today. Earthly people will never understand this relationship, because it is spiritual.

I think the most important thing now that we are saved, we prepare for our eternal life in Heaven. What will be doing in Heaven? We will worship God in everything we do. So should we now on Earth do everything in the name of Jesus, and do what is right with Him, and be concerned if we are following Him, and where we are not, so He can help us.

 

[Rescued One]

@Ivan Hlavanda

Thank you so much! Your words are such a nice reflection on those verses.

 

[Rescued One]

@Nick01,
Thank you. I'm not as eloquent as some, but my heart is so warmed by those who share the word of God.

My great-grandmother liked the hymn 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. And it certainly is!


I believe:

"...our works and grace are intimately and inextricably tied together in Christ Jesus."
--- Tony Warren

Whatever we do as Christians should be solely to the glory of God. We can do nothing apart from Jesus. We are so blessed; we ought not to forget the millions of blessings that God gives us.

 

[Rescued One]

A daughter died from complications of pneumonia.

 

[SANTOSO]

“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. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:1–4).

Colossians 3:2
Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

What do you guys think about this? I would like for this to be a serious topic, seeing as how we are instructed to think. What are some things of heaven you think about? How do you think about this (what are your thoughts like, in relation to these verses) ?

Also, what does it mean to be "hidden" ?

What are the things above, and how do you view HEAVEN (where we are required to think about) ?

I hope this becomes a hot topic. I think there are a lot of things we can say and think about this.

See ya soon!

Dear ones,
What THINGS that are ABOVE, that our minds should set on ?

This is what we have heard:
Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. -Psalms 36:5 ESV.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. -John 15:9

Dear ones,
Things that are above are His steadfast love and faithfulness, that we should set our minds on.

Dear ones,
When we abide in the love of Christ; won’t we our love in union with Christ extends to the heavens ? Yes, dear ones.
Didn’t in His faithfulness, that our Lord Jesus Christ promises to meet us in the clouds? Yes, He did, dear ones.

For we heard our Lord said:
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. -John 14:3

Likewise, we heard:
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. -1 Thessalonians 4:14

Dear ones,
Weren’t those who have fallen sleep in union with Christ, our Lord took to Himself where Christ is ? Yes, they were; those who have died in union with Christ, God brought them with Him to a place in Heaven, where Christ is.

Dear ones,
When we abide in the love of Christ! Will our love in union with Christ extends to the heavens to those whom Christ have taken to Himself ? Yes, our love can reach to them in union with Christ.

For this is also what we have heard:
But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, -1 Thessalonians 2:17

For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? -1 Thessalonians 2:19
For you are our glory and joy. -1 Thessalonians 2:20

Dear ones,
Though we were torn away from our loved ones, as brethren in Christ for a short time, in person not in heart, apostles and our loved ones endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see us face to face.
For we are the hope, joy, crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at His coming. For we are our loved ones’ glory and joy.

Likewise, we heard:
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, -Hebrews 11:39
since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. -Hebrews 11:40

So dear ones,
God had provided something better for our loved ones whom God has brought with Christ, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Dear ones, how great the steadfast love of our Lord and His faithfulness, that we should praise.

Dear ones,
For this is what we have heard:
For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, -1 Thessalonians 5:9
who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him. -1 Thessalonians 5:10
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. -1 Thessalonians 5:11

Dear ones, those asleep in Christ, live with Christ, where Christ is.

Dear ones, let us who are awake in Christ, live with Christ, set our minds on His steadfast love that extends to the heavens and His faithfulness that reaches to the clouds.

Dear ones, let us be encouraged and be build in the love of Christ, just as we are doing things in Christ, to set our minds on the things above where Christ is.

 

[SANTOSO]

“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. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:1–4).

Colossians 3:2
Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

What do you guys think about this? I would like for this to be a serious topic, seeing as how we are instructed to think. What are some things of heaven you think about? How do you think about this (what are your thoughts like, in relation to these verses) ?

Also, what does it mean to be "hidden" ?

What are the things above, and how do you view HEAVEN (where we are required to think about) ?

I hope this becomes a hot topic. I think there are a lot of things we can say and think about this.

See ya soon!

Dear one,
You have heard:
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. -Colossians 3:3

And you also asked, what does it mean to be "hidden" ?

Dear one,
Our lives are hidden in the love of Christ in God.

For we heard:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. -John 3:16

You may ask how I consider that we are hidden in His love.
This is what we have heard:

Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but He sent me. -John 8:42
Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. -John 8:43

It is because they don’t understand what Jesus said. That is why our lives are hidden from the world, for our lives are hidden in the love of Christ. For we understand what Jesus said, that we love Him and believe that Christ came from God; For we love to hear His words and long for His appearing at His second coming.

Dear one,
Be in the love of Christ. Thus, we fulfill the will of God.

 

[SANTOSO]

On the things that are above !!!
What we can seek and set our minds today! - Colossians 3:1-2

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. -Revelation 21:2

Great is the LORD
and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God!
His holy mountain, -Psalms 48:1
beautiful in elevation,
is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion,
in the far north,
the city of the great King. -Psalms 48:2

Our Lord Jesus Christ is in the city of our God ! His holy mountain.

Jesus spoke:
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. -John 15:11

Yes, Jesus Christ, our beloved who make our joy complete is in Mount Zion, the city of the great King Jesus Christ.

Remember what Jesus said:
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and will take you to myself,
that where I am you may be also. -John 14:3

The joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, where our Lord is where we will be also.

Hallelujah!
Selah or Pause to reflect

 

[Confused-by-christianity]

....... and how do you view HEAVEN.......

I hope you get to go on a holiday that lasts as long as you want - years and years maybe. Like you get a plot of land and you can just garden it, landscape it, grow food, learn every subject you missed out on in earth, practice skills you always wanted to learn on earth, read all the books you want. Maybe get some visitors. I imagine a really wild rugged beautiful place that you get to work with. I hope it's so awe inspiring that it's better than you imagine heaven to be, but, it's the lowest level of heaven (to you it's beyond your wildest dreams - but it's actually only the beginning)

I hope this is only the beginning though.

Maybe you live thousands and thousands of heaven lives - each with lessons you are supposed to learn - getting better and better until finally you're so good - you "see" God - then you use all your acquired experience and wisdom over eternity to do a really important job for God??

haha I have no idea what it'll be like.