Week Three

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Col 3:1–4) 

The assumption, of course, is that the reader will say, “Yes, I have been raised with Christ. I’ve been circumcised with the circumcision of Christ (2:11). To use another metaphor, I’ve taken up my cross, I’ve died to this world and its delights and loves. I’ve died with Christ (2:20) and am living in the light of that death. And yes, I’ve been raised with Christ to new life (3:1).

And since I’ve been raised with him, I am vigorously following him by seeking those things which are above, where Christ is sitting. I’m working to focus my thinking, not on what is right in front of me or what might be out in front of me but am striving to keep my mind on things above. Paul goes on to say that since all this is true, that we should put to death our members on the earth.

It is interesting how much easier that seems to be now that my days on this earth may be much more numbered than I previously believed them to be. It seems much easier to not give in various temptations than it has ever been in my Christian life.

Of course, that could change any minute. I’ve recently found a website, from Britain, that gives information about the prospects, or possible prospects of someone with advanced prostate cancer and it looks like there’s a good chance that I may have plenty of opportunities to want to “curse God and die.”

For now, I’m working hard to build on the foundation I’ve been working on for the past 40+ years. I want to go out in godly style and in the going out I want to live in godly style.

So, if you wouldn’t mind, would you pray for me? First, to be healed. That just seems like the thing to do in this circumstance. It appears that I have a lot more to do here. Now that I am getting older, God seems to be opening ministry doors that haven’t been there before (or maybe I was just lazy and didn’t see them). Second, would you pray that in whatever comes, before I pass away that I would represent Christ well and would give him glory in everything I put my hand to? Third, would you pray that when God sees fit to take me home, that he would do it quickly without a lot of pain? I’ve never really enjoyed pain very much and it seems like it would be good to be feeling good and then one night just wake up in glory.

The newest news: my PSA numbers went down from 222 to 127. And my testosterone number was .25, which is very low (I think).

Image by David Mark from Pixabay