Easter from Colossians 3 . Set your hearts on the Christ who sits at the Right Hand of God!

 Easter from the Colossians 3 Reading

" We cannot arrive at the perfect possession of God in this life, and that is why we are travelling and in darkness. But we already possess Him by grace, and therefore in that sense we have arrived and are dwelling in the light."

Thomas Merton

I like this quote for several reasons .  It is positive and reflects our Christian life that should be light here while we live to others.  God's grace should be evident in our Christian practice.  Words are good, but not sufficient.  

Somehow if we were honest we would say that our lives are not that full of goodness and truth .  This happens to us just as it did in the time when the Apostle wrote his letter to the Christians in Colossae. Our walk does not imitate our talk for sure.  We are guilty in this area .

Some gnostic ( knowledge only is salvation and not our behaviour....from the Greek word gnosis or knowledge) heresies / false teaching had crept in to the church.  I remember going with my mother when I was stationed at Fort Ord, CA to an Easter Sunrise Service.  The pastor ( I hate to mention he had to be a liberal of some sort) said the Resurrection could have only been spiritual and not physically real.  I was rather upset about this after I got home.  Why go to a Resurrection Service with no resurrection? What are we celebrating then?  It was quite disappointing and threw cold water on the reality of who Christ is and what He has done through His death , resurrection, and Ascension to the "right Hand of God."  Colossians 3

1.  Paul is adamant about the real Resurrection.  " If ye then be risen with Christ..."  Colossians 3:1

" In the mystery cults which flourished in the apostolic age the great promise which was held out was salvation through enlightenment.  Those who were initiated partook of the knowledge which was reserved for the inmost fellowship,..the rites and ceremonies of the cult were but the pathway to this esoteric knowledge."  Herbert Carson in his "The Epistles of Paul "

Does this sound famiiar?  It unfortunately has taken root in ceremonies and dressing up for clergy in modern denominations that reject the teaching of the NT about Christian behaviour and life.  In other words , if we look good at the Service and dress up and play Church, then we are good to go. But these churches are often bereft of doctrinal teaching .  The teaching of the Scriptures do not allow for nonsense.  The congregations usually continue to give their money to false teaching and clergy that seem not to stand up for much at all in my thinking.

Also mentioned are anger, division, slander ( abusive words) and unethical conduct which Christians should have left a long time ago in their lives. 

2.  Christ sits at the right hand of God.  " The right hand of God is the place of holiness, of intercession and of power..thus growth in holiness, depth in prayer, and advance in spiritual power should be the aim which fill the believer's horizon."  Carson

" I believe ....And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures: And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father"  We say this every Holy Communion , pg. 71 of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer , The Nicene Creed

Christ reigns in heaven .  He is accorded every privilege because of His Resurrection from the dead.  The world is corrupt and evil, but our trust is in the Father and the Son who direct, sanctify and govern His people through His Spirit to the glory of God.

This is not a small thing at all. We are comforted if we have Christ in our life that all things will work together for good.  We are not adrift as many think.  We are heading in our lives to the glory for which Christ has bought our eternal life by His own blood.

If we look at the world we will see chaos and people in fear .  But as Christians we have been graced with His love and compassion in the time and places in which we live.  Our eternal journey will be made complete when we pass from life to death and are in the presence of God forevermore.

Psalm 84 reminds us of the journey and the destination all along kept by God.

"  

My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

3Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.

4Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah."

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them" 

As Merton said in our introduction, we are presently His by grace and traveling in the light now. 

We are alive in His light.  

3.  Lastly, we should set our affection on things above." All our petty divisions ( distinctions ) are shown to be of no ultimate importance once it is seen that Christ is everything, and dwells in all, i. e. in all His people whatever their race or background. "  Carson

I am so glad that the Anglican Orthodox Church has many Churches throughout the globe.  One that amazes me is the AOC in Pakistan.  They are quite remarkable in Pakistan .  I see pictures of their work throughout the year and am amazed.  In a culture that is not generally Christian it is a testimony to their perseverance and faith that so many Churches there do exist and are thriving.  We can learn much from their witness in the Americas. 

How can we set our affection on things above?  It seems rather simple but we let the news, the culture and our petty arguments with others divide us instead of thinking of what has already been so beautifully accomplished by God through His Word and Church.

We should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together to encourage and listen to one other's concerns as it says in Hebrews 10:25. 

I have often found the 1940 hymnal to be a place I go to when I need encouragement as well.  The hymns are set to generally singable tunes and lift my spirit as I find the hymns of Passion week and Easter to sing.  

Hymn 470 has an opening verse that caught my eye:

" Where is death's sting?  We were not born to die, 

Not only for the life beyond the grave;

   All that is beautiful in earth and sky,

All skill, all knowledge, all the powers we have,

   Are if thy giving, and in them we see

No dust and ashes, but a part of thee."  G.F. Brady, 1929

Passion turns to Power to raise from the dead.  All that are gone we will finally see as we see God face to face.  A reunion with the creatures, the friends is soon to come.  I look forward to that day!

Amen.