The expression “get your head out of the clouds” refers to someone who has such lofty hopes and dreams and aspirations that he or she might not have their feet planted in reality. You can’t have hopes that extend beyond your ability to fulfill them. A person might not be psychologically prepared, or emotionally prepared, or financially prepared, or spiritually prepared to fulfill what dreams he or she might have. “Get your head out of the clouds.”
But as Christians, Paul tells us here in Colossians 3 that we need to “put our heads into the clouds.” Let me suggest to you that it was not any easier to live the Christian life in the 1st century than it is in the 21st century. In some ways it might be easier, in some ways it is likely harder. But Paul’s intention in the letter of Colossians, as in all his letters, was to encourage Christians to stay faithful to Christ. And staying faithful to Christ begins with knowing the right things, theological facts that come from the heart and mind of God. And staying faithful to Christ means that our behavior, our lifestyles, need to be lined up with those facts. We need to live what we know.
SEEK AND THINK – 3:1-4:
Baptism (2:12; Rom. 6:3-4) shows: 1) Our faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Christ; 2) Our union and identification with Him spiritually. This latter concept is a strong theme behind Paul’s subsequent words in this text.
Our “life” in Christ will end in a glorious body like our Savior’s when He is “revealed.” See also Philippians 3:20-21.
PUT TO DEATH – 3:5-7:
“Therefore” refers to the previous motivation. The “members of our earthly body” refers to parts of the old man of sin which have been crucified with Christ when we were united with Him in baptism: Romans 6:6.
When we go back to those old sinful behaviors after we have become Christians, we are, in essence, living lives of spiritual zombies – bringing the dead back to life. And dead flesh is ugly, gross, and stinks extremely badly!
Pagan religions don’t discourage this type of behavior; rather, it typically encourages this behavior. That’s why people create idols, so they can live the way they want to live.
But, Paul writes that the wrath of God is coming over people who practice these behaviors. Let me point out to you that the wrath of God “is coming” (present tense).
PUT ASIDE AND DO NOT LIE – 3:8-10:
Earlier, Paul talked about what we might say was “unholy love.” Here, he talks about “unholy hate.” Hatred of sin is holy and is required in the Word.
Paul is still talking about behaviors that are part of the “members of our earthly body.” We “put on” Christ at baptism (Gal. 3:26-27), but this also means we need to “take off” certain other behaviors.
Our spirits are being renewed toward knowledge, better knowledge, according to the image of Jesus Christ who has created our new spirits in His image. In 2 Corinthians 4:16, Paul talks about this renewal happening every day.
Once we have been “renewed,” the behavior that should characterize us is found now in 3:12-14…
To grow, we have to “shrink:” put off sinful habits.
Paul Holland
