According
to Dr. Google, the edge of the observable universe is estimated to be ~46.5
billion light-years from Earth in any direction. Naturally, we are only as good
as our technology and theorems as to the true vastness of space. The more
zeroes a number has, the less meaningful or relatable it becomes to us who have
to use our fingers or toes to do basic arithmetic. Small numbers can even be a
challenge to identify with. Either way, it is tough to relate to large or small
numbers for people like me who majored in Aftermath in college.
Take
the pace that light travels in a second: ~186,282 miles. Based on that rate, light
travels 11,176,920 miles in one minute! Within a light-hour, light will travel
670,615,200 miles. In a light-day, light travels 16,094,764,800 miles. In a
light-year (365.25), light will have traveled over 5 trillion miles:
5,878,612,843,200 miles, if rounding: 6 trillion miles! The “edge” of the “observable”
universe is postulated to be ~46 billion light-years from Earth in any
direction. If we multiply that 46 billion light-years by our 6 trillion miles
that light travels in a year, the supposed “edge” of our universe in any
direction from Earth would be 276 sextillion miles (21 zeroes behind it).
Think
of light traveling 186,282 miles per second. If we took an airplane traveling
at the speed of sound (~767.269 mph), it would take ~243 hours or ~10 days
non-stop to cover 186,282 miles. Since there are 86,400 seconds in a day, it
took us 864,000 seconds to travel the same distance that light could do in 1
second. Distance is one thing, but the time it takes to travel that distance is
quite another factor! I had to edit this twice because I left my shoes on!
Rounding
can remove or add big numbers to approximations (~). For example, I have read
that the “edge” of the “observable” universe was 270 sextillion miles (again,
270 followed by 21 zeroes). My number was 276 sextillion miles. So, you can
imagine how non-relatable it becomes along with the inflation or deflation of
rounding big numbers with approximations (~). Nobody has physically seen the
edge of the universe, only in their astronomical theorems. Technology can only
take us so far at this juncture. Some argue there is no edge to the universe,
only infinity. It is fascinating to contemplate the location of God’s abode
outside the universe.
Unfortunately,
much of our cosmological data is derived from an evolutionary or secular point
of view as opposed to the alternate worldview of creationism. A brief example of
the bias of science is its claim that the universe is billions of years old.
One of the ways they claim to know the Earth is very old is by the distance
light has to travel to be seen from it.
They
get a big bang out of touting the fact that it takes 46 billion+ light-years
for light to travel from the edge of the universe to Earth in any direction. They
dogmatically reject that Earth is ~10,000 years old or younger. Such an idea is
not only preposterous to secular thinking but laughable to scorning and shaming
anyone who disagrees with a very ancient Earth. BTW, creationists believe Adam
and Eve never pondered the question of origins; they knew where they came from
and what their purpose was, and the light from the celestial bodies was
instantaneous by Yahweh.
Light
from the heavens was created on the fourth day of creation week,
(Gen 1:14) Then God said, “Let
there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the
night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years;
(Gen 1:15) and let them be for
lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was
so.
(Gen 1:16) So God made the two
great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule
the night, and also the stars.
(Gen 1:17) And God placed them in
the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,
(Gen 1:18) and to rule the day
and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it
was good.
(Gen 1:19) And there was evening
and there was morning, a fourth day.
The
lights from the heavens (sun, moon, stars) reaching the Earth were created
instantaneously, ex nihilo, out of nothing; in other words, they were not made
by pre-existing materials. If there was a vapor canopy surrounding the Earth
before Adam and Eve had fallen, you have to wonder if it interfered with their
ability to see the lights from the sun, moon, and stars in their observable
universe? They both had perfect vision and pristine atmospheric conditions with
their line of sight before the fall. They could see ~4,000 stars plus with the
naked eye (no pun intended) from their vantage point. Now, if a vapor canopy did
indeed surround the earth before the fall, you cannot help but wonder whether
it blocked their view of outer space to any degree or not.
I
mentioned all of this because of what Paul is telling the Colossians; he is
telling us, too! Seek and think on the things of God. Yes, these things are not
of this planet, and none of us can cross a vast stretch of space that is at
least 45 billion light-years away to get to those things above that are beyond
the stars.
To seek and think of things above that are not
of this earth, we only have to go to the Word of God that has been provided for
us to do that very thing! And I have been lifting my voice for years concerning
what I believe to be the greatest threat to Christianity. Ironically, the danger
is coming from within its ranks. Despite having more information and literature
on Christianity and Bible translations than at any other time in human history,
the spiritual plight confronting Christianity today is willful ignorance of the
Scriptures.
How
can we ever be heavenly-minded when our seeking and thinking are on things below
rather than things above, treating earthly distractions as more important?
(Col 3:1) Therefore, if you have
been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is,
seated at the right hand of God.
(Col 3:2) Set your mind on the
things above, not on the things that are on earth.
I.
We are told to keep
seeking the things above, not the things of earth.
(Col 3:1) Therefore,
if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where
Christ is, seated at the right hand of God (Col
3:1, LSB).
This
connective word, therefore (Grk., oun), is linking the doctrinal section of
Colossians (chapters 1-2) with the practical section (chapters 3-4). Therefore occurs five times in
Colossians in the LSB (therefore [x4]: Col 2:6, 16; 3:1, 5; so [x1]: Col 3:12). Whenever you see the word, therefore, ask yourself, “What
is it there for?”
If1[since], a particle of
conditionality, is a first class
conditional sentence (assumed to be true from the author’s p.o.v. for
argument’s sake, cf. Col 2:20).
Raised
up with Christ or “co-raised with Christ” (cf. Col 2:12-13; Rom 6:3-11; Eph 2:5-6,
Utley).
If
you
The
pronoun is plural.
Keep
seeking or keep on seeking [Grk., zeteo, G2212, (T) present (V) active (M)
imperative, 112 verses /134 occurrences – LSB]
“You”
This
pronoun is the understood subject for you to keep seeking, not someone else to
do it for you!]. Given that the first you is plural, the understood pronoun “you” is
also plural, referring back to the Colossian believers.
The
object of seeking: the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God
Paraphrase
of Col 3:1: Therefore, since you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking
the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
II.
We are told to keep thinking on the things above, not on the
things of earth.
(Col 3:2) Set
your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
This is a mental orientation. Please
take the time to read the references!
The mode of seeking: set [exercise] your mind [thinking] on the things above (Col 3:2a; cf. Rom 8:5; 12:2; Php 1:23; 3:19; 4:8; 1 Jn 2:15-17; Mt
6:33).
[You,
again, “you” is the understood subject, not someone else to do it for you] keep seeking [Grk., phroneo ,
G5426, (T) present (V) active (M) imperative), 19 verses / 40 occurrences –
LSB] keep exercising your thinking on things above, where Christ is, seated at
the right hand of God.
The
imperative is “to pursue spiritual thoughts and things” (cf. Col 3:2; Php
2:1-2; 4:8, Utley). Our feet are planted on earth, but our heads are beyond the
stars, seeking and thinking on heavenly things, bringing heavenly direction to our
earthly duties, and concentrating on the eternal, rather than the temporal (cf.
2 Cor 4:18, BKC).
Some believe the two verses of Col
3:1-2 are not both in the (T) present tense (V) active voice (M) imperative
mood; rather, this school of thought interprets Col 3:1 as (T) present (V) active
(M) indicative and Col 3:2 in the (T) present tense (V) active voice (M)
imperative mood. They see a subtle distinction in the mood of both
verses. In other words, v1 is who we are in Christ, and v2 is what we should
be in Christ.
Most conservative scholars favor both Colossian
verses to be in the (T) present tense (V) active voice (M) imperative mood. In
other words, both moods are the same – in the imperative mood. The other
alternative view is grammatically possible. I belabored the point simply to
illustrate how a shift of thought can occur and still be grammatically correct,
but not necessarily contextually right. That brings me to – hmm.
What are the
things above?
We can say with certainty that Paul is referring to nothing
terrestrial, replacing the celestial – Not
on the things that are on the earth [cf. Col 2:23 fleshly indulgences]. Unless
you have been raised up with Christ, no philosophical thought (about a legalism of rules or ascetic rules)
is going to get you where you need to be spiritually; such earthly things are
of no value against fleshly indulgence (Col 2:23).
So, we are commanded to keep on
seeking the things above in heaven and not on earth, but also we are commanded
to keep on exercising our thinking or keep on thinking about things above
and not on the things that are on earth. We should never allow earthly things to
take precedence or dominate our heavenly-mindedness that governs our earthly
activities. So many believers are not getting this!
The lie is in the accusation of being
so heavenly-minded that we are of no earthly good. How can we be good for
anyone, especially in glorifying God, if we are not heavenly-minded? There is
today such a great willful ignorance of Scripture that can only mean that there
are many believers who are not heavenly-minded at all and of no earthly nor
heavenly good (cf. 1 Cor 6:19-20; 10:31; Col 3:17, 23)! If God is not being
glorified in our seeking, thinking, and lifestyle, we are essentially in the
land of Nowhere, below the stars…
Col
3:1 provides a biblical basis for actively and continually reading the
Scriptures. To help us along, we are commanded to do this by faith! Why?
You would think every truly born again believer would want to know everything
there is about heaven since we are going to spend an eternity there!
Commands
or divine imperatives are necessitated because there is a latent resistance
factor to obeying them, given our sinful or fleshly nature. Welcome to Human
Nature 101 or Spiritual Reality 101! Imagine missing out on the blessings of
the Lord because we treated His commandment as optional! Who does that?? All of
us at times…
Our
everyday horizontal seeking and thinking is consuming our waking hours, leaving
little to no time for vertical seeking and thinking on things above. Who does
that?? All of us at times, others at more times, and even others all the time! Since
so many believers are willfully spiritually ignorant today when it comes to
Scripture, which is, by the way, the only authoritative book on heaven, is it any
wonder that the things of earth dominate our seeking and thinking on things
below over the things above! It’s called carnality that opposes God.
Such
believers have an under mentality rather than an above state of mind, walking
horizontally rather than vertically. Living in the sphere of the land down
under (not referring to Australia) is a place of unnecessary burdens and the
absence of blessings from on High. Why a sensible believer would opt for that
is baffling! We have all been there at times and others at more times. If you
like it there all the time, there is something spiritually wrong with that
desire.
Rather
than being a light set upon a hill, there is only a spiritual blackout
perfectly blending in with the surrounding darkness. There is such a high
demand for energy for the seeking and thinking of things below that there is a
depletion of energy for any seeking and thinking on things above regularly.
Physically exhausted by the end of every day, we put off being heavenly-minded for
another day. Inevitably and suddenly, if we continue to be unwise, we will run
out of days, but not according to our plan and schedule.
The
authority on Heaven’s values is only found in the Scriptures. Heavenly-mindedness
cannot happen if a believer continues to remain in a state of spiritual
ignorance of the Scriptures or willfully elects to disobey God in knowledge. Either
way, the I/O law of Input/Output rings true: bad data in/ bad data out. No
blessings in/no blessing out for others.
Should
we faithfully keep on seeking the thing above beyond the stars and keep
thinking beyond the stars on the things above simply by reading and applying
the Scriptures to the daily routine of living for Yahweh, we will, with the
Holy Spirit’s help, produce a heavenly-mindedness pleasing to God. This means
we are seeking and thinking about the eternal things (vertical orientation)
over the temporal things (horizontal orientation).
Such
Christlike behavior in us will serve as a light to a world darkened by sin,
glorifying our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is seated at the right
hand of God the
Father. Beyond the stars, I will add.
Heavenly-minded
folks are always seeking and thinking on things above that are way beyond the distant
stars, and they do this 24/7 as a lifestyle! What is their ethical, moral, and
spiritual compass? They read and apply the Scriptures daily in their walk with
Yahweh. Their earthly good is seen by their desire to glorify our Lord in all
that they are doing here on planet Earth.
Beloved,
keep on seeking; keep on thinking for the glory of God! So many are under the
authority of the Scripture but not in it! Learn the Word, love the Word, and live
the Word. It’s the only way for us to get beyond the blue and the black and
reach a brighter day from the things above which are within our grasp! <><
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