Set your affection [mindset] on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2)

Solomon, in the book of Ecclesiastes, declares that everything under the sun is emptiness and vanity. Whether it be our accomplishments, our intellectual improvements, or our relationships with mankind; ultimately, there is no permanent satisfaction. Here in our text, the Spirit of God commands us to have our mental mindset and preoccupations with where we are sitted in Christ. We could phrase it in this matter, be mentally absorbed with things above the sun.

The implications of not setting our affections above have far-reaching consequences. These consequences reach the preacher as well as the brethren. A continual analysis of things below can disturb even the assurance of our salvation in Christ. True believers who are preoccupied on whether they prayed earnestly or with the right wording when they got saved from sin never have an assured confidence in Christ. Why? Salvation is not by works, prayers, or by looking within ourselves but by the person and work of Christ.

Andrew Bonar relates an incident in his ministry that may encourage someone this day to keep your mental thoughts on our risen Saviour.

Tuesday, 13th [1838] – Visiting the girl Elizabeth Mackenzie, who has been in depression of mind arising from having fallen back after knowing the truth, I was glad to witness an instance of the power of the truth to clear the mind. She had said to me when I went in that she was better now and more able to believe that Christ would still receive her. When I began to speak of Christ directly as source of joy, she said that she thought she had been trusting too much for comfort to her evidences. I then read part of I John ii. 1, 2, dwelling much upon our being sinners even after coming to Christ, and that our comfort came from knowing our justification complete, not from our holiness. While conversing about this she said, ‘Oh, I see now, I see it! I have been looking much into myself.’ Afterwards she again said the like, and two or three times repeated, ‘I see it, I see it! I should always look to Christ.’ She then remarked that she had often found great joy while hearing Christ preached, but it went away. I showed her that this was because all the time of hearing she had been thinking of Christ, and not of herself. Again she said, ‘I see it now,’ and there was great peace upon her countenance and a smile of joy. I never before really understood how fully the Gospel is ‘glad tidings of great joy.’ (Andrew Bonar, Life & Diary, 59)

Christian, let us look to Christ. He is our meditation, our peace, our joy, our wisdom, our holiness, and our love. Salvation is by looking to Him alone and resting in His work. Our pilgrimage is by keeping our eyes “on the Light” as Bunyan stated. May His joy be our joy! May His love be our love! May His God be our God all the days of our life!