Where To Place Affections

          Paul instructed the Christians at Colosse and us today that if we are raised with Christ, we are to seek things that are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.  He adds that we are to set our affections on the things above that we seek and not on things of this world (Colossians 3:1, 2).

            An affection is defined as a warm attachment, love, fondness for, etc.  Christ warns us in Matthew 6:24 that we cannot divide our affections.  He tells us that no one can serve two masters and he makes the application that we cannot serve both God and mammon.  In Mark 7:21, he tells us that evil and sin come from within us and out of the heart of man, where his affections are.  And, as we think with the heart, so we are (Prov. 23:7).

            So lets look at a few things above where we are to place our affections.  Of course the first thing that comes to mind is God, our father.  As in Psalms 123:1, we should definitely direct our eyes to our God that dwells in heaven above.  And on his right, sits Jesus Christ our savior.  Both worthy of all our respect and reverent worship.  They give us so much love that it makes it easy to love and worship them.  That is why it is so important to study God's word.  Because the more we learn of them, the more we see their love for us and all they have done for us in the past and do continuously for us and the easier it is to love them.  Therefore, God's word is another place for us to place our affections.  In Psalm 119:97, we see that our love is to be for God's law and we should meditate on it all the day.  A heavenly home is a place above to set our affections on too.  God and Christ made this home possible for us and promised it to those who obey unto salvation and remain faithful unto death.  2 Corinthians 5:1, 2 reminds us that our earthly house or tent has a set time and then it will pass away.  However, we have something much greater and permanent to look forward to if we are faithful.  A house not made with earthly hands but something of God that is permanent in the heavens.  This is the desire and what Christians affectionately yearn for.

            We must guard against placing affections in earthly things that are only going to let us down sooner or later.  The world chases after one thing and then another only to be disappointed again and again.  That is why it is so edifying to be together here today worshiping God and the things above which are permanent.  We are looking forward to and working toward the promise of that heavenly home as the church.

- Marc Hopkins