Attack on Reality
Colossians 3:1-2 – 1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
The passage for this week’s message talks about how we should set our minds on things above instead of things on Earth. It talks about how we should seek the lordship of Jesus Christ.
After giving our lives to God, while his lordship over us is real, the influence of the world in our lives may make it feel abstract. As we continue in our spiritual journey, our previous stumbling blocks become harder to detect and obvious sins that used to steer us away can become more subtle. This may be discouraging and may affect our life and our relationships with others.
Just like how war is prevalent in this world, there also exists spiritual warfare. The Screwtape Letters, written by C.S Lewis, is about a senior “tempter”, Screwtape, who is mentoring and guiding a junior “tempter” on all the subtle things they use to try to influence and take our attention away from Jesus. The book runs through several ways that Screwtape can influence our faith and to be wary and vigilant. For example, they may change our focus on the illusion of the future and all of its associated anxieties and uncertainties instead of the reality of the present and past. They may use our flesh to interrupt our times of reflection, introspection, and personal time with God through temptations. Additionally, they may change our focus of prayer to the cross instead of what the cross represents. Ultimately, the book talks about ways the enemy can take our lordship away from Jesus to ourselves that may not be scandalous sins but can still interrupt our views and relationships with God and others.
The enemy wants us to focus on the temporary things of this world instead of what is eternal. For Sean, he shared about the difficulties he has faced since working alone in his construction business for the first time in 19 years. He shared that he faced a lot of anxiety concerning the uncertainties of his business and providing for his family and how it has affected his sleep and health. However, he shared that through the grace of God, it has led him to be more prayerful in seceding his worries to God. He focused his days on the present and the things he could do instead of focusing on the future. In this way, it had reminded him that he had worried for nothing – despite all his worries, his business is still afloat, his bills continue to be paid, and he is still able to provide food and housing for his family.
Looking back at the passage Colossians 3:1-2, the letter from Paul to the church of Colossae was sent to remind the church that salvation was dependent on Christ alone and to warn them not to let the things of this world replace what Christ is and has already done for us. Nothing can replace Jesus. Similar to how the Secret Service focuses on real money instead of counterfeit money, we need to focus on what is real and true by seeking God’s word which gives life to us.
Reflection Questions:
What were your main takeaways from this week’s message?
What has been on your mind and could be an avenue for the enemy to take our attention away from God?
