Colossians 3:1-4

"Since then you have been raised with Christ,
set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

Do we realize the entire significance of Easter.
We know about Christ being raised from the dead,
but we must also understand what that means to us.

Jesus was raised on that first Easter morning, but in Christ you were also raised.
The Bible says, "You were raised with Christ."

You and I were raised with Christ.
Of course, you can't be raised from the dead, unless you have died.

Verse 3 is about your death.
You have died with Christ.
When you received Christ you died with Him.
You died to your old life, and you are a new creation in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:17)

If you are a Christian, then you have died with Him.

Mark Twain once remarked, "Rumors of my death have been highly exaggerated."

If you are a Christian, you have already died.
You will never die again.

And there are many of you here this morning who have died with Christ.
You have died to the ways of the world.
You have died to lifestyles that were self-destructive.

So, today understand all the good news of Easter.

When Jesus came out of that tomb, you were raised with Him.
You have died with Christ, and you have been raised with him.
So, check it out!

Since you have died with Christ, and since you have been raised with Christ,
and since you have a new life in Christ -- do you live like it?

The Bible says,
"Set your minds and hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Don't set your minds and hearts on earthly things, set them on the things above."

Do you do that?
Do you set your mind on the things of God?
Are you more concerned with spiritual things than on earthly things?

That does not mean that you and I are to withdraw from the world.
That does not mean that you and I are to live with our heads in the clouds?
There are those who are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.

Here is where we should place our focus -- Jesus is alive!
He is seated at the right hand of God.
He is sovereign.
He rules over heaven and earth.
And your life and mine must confirm to His will for us.

He is alive!
He is not some fictional character.
He is alive!

This earth is no longer our home.
As Christians, we are on a journey that will take us home.
We are staying at Hotel Earth on our way home.
We know Hotel Earth is not our home, and we are ready to leave hotel when its time to go home.
Christ will come for us when that time arrives.

Set your minds on what's above, not on earthly things.
Look at life as a new creature of Jesus Christ!
No matter what happens to us in this life -- good or bad,
Christ promises that He will be with us.
He is transforming all that happens to us into His wonderful purpose for our lives.

In the Disney animated classics, "Peter Pan,"
there is a scene where Peter comes into the children's bedroom, and they ask him, how to fly.

And Peter says,
"Think wonderful, lovely thoughts and they will lift you up into the air."
That sounds great, but it is fantasy!

God is not into fantasy.
God is into reality.
God is into raising people from the dead.

But, I can tell you this -- one day, we will fly!
We'll fly away!

"Some glad morning when this life is o'er,
I'll fly away;
To a home on God's celestial shore,
I'll fly away.

I'll fly away, O glory,
I'll fly away;
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by,
I'll fly away.
When the shadows of this life have grown,
I'll fly away;
Like a bird from prison bars has flown,
I'll fly away.

Just a few more weary days and then,
I'll fly away;
To a land where joys shall never end,
I'll fly away."
-- Albert Brumbly

If you are not ready to meet Christ, you've missed the reason you were created.

Receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and this will be your greatest Easter!

When you do this, you will also be raised with Him.
You will be ready for eternity!
Come now!

Sermon by Dr. Harold L. White
Email Dr. White at hleewhite@aol.com