Sermon 3rd August 2026 – 8th Sunday after Pentecost
Text: Colossians 3:1-11 – Hidden reality
How do you feel when you look at everything that is
going on around the world – both locally and overseas? The crimes here in
Australia – the machete attacks in suburban shopping centres – the tobacco
stores being burned down – the crimes – the state of the economy. Or overseas
with the wars, the tariffs, It’s so easy
to become disheartened wondering what on
earth is God doing. It’s so easy to shut yourself off from the rest of the
world and just hide in your own little corner.
Paul gives great advice for us to deal with all that’s
going on around the world that concerns us. He says –
If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things
that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your
minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have
died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
What does Paul mean by that?
We need to link this understanding to what Paul says
in Romans 6 where he says: Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into
Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him
through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the
dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we
have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united
with him in a resurrection like his.
Life today is not much different to that of Paul’s
days – it’s just more modern. The anguish however was the same. So Paul
discovered that he would remember that life on earth is not the place God has
prepared for him.
He says in Philippians 3 - But we are citizens of
heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him
to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them
into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will
bring everything under his control. Remember what Paul said in our reading? Seek
the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Christ
is not absent from the world. He is ruling the world from the right hand of
God. Perhaps it doesn’t look that way as we live out our daily lives. But Paul
reminds us that what we see is not the true reality for Christians.
We are citizens of heaven. So Paul says - your life is
hidden with Christ in God. And it’s a life that is hidden with glory. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then
you also will be revealed with him in glory. And that’s what our life is about
– waiting. Waiting for our Lord to return to bring us to our eternal home where
we will live in God’s glory with no more suffering or death.
Paul sees our Baptism as an exit from this life
already. Notice he speaks in the present tense – not a future event. For you
HAVE died – and your life is NOW hidden with Christ. Life might not look any
different but Pauls say – When Christ returns then HIS glory will be revealed
and also YOUR glory will be revealed at the same time. Notice that he says it
will be revealed – not received at that time.
You have a life filled with glory NOW – you’ve had it
since the day your Baptism when you were made a child of God. So it’s not about
ignoring the world we live in – no. We have been sent into the world to share
the Gospel with the world. The great commission says - go and make disciples of
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And
surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
And Jesus is with us as he says in his high priestly
prayer to his heavenly Father in John 17: My prayer is not that you take them out of the
world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world,
even as I am not of it.
So as we go out into the world we will be challenged
by all the things happening in the world around us. So, Paul says – focus on
the things above not on earthly things. The things of this life are passing as
Jesus says – heaven and earth will pass away but my words never will. And so in
our Gospel reading Jesus tells a parable about a rich person who was so
successful that he focused only on his earthly life and forgot about his
spiritual health and relationship with God.
He had so much earthly success he didn’t know what to
do with all his wealth. I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and
there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, `Soul,
you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'
Notice his focus – I will pull down – my barns, I will
store my grain and my goods – I will say to my soul. But how did God respond? You
fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you
have prepared, whose will they be?
It is very tempting to focus on earthly things –
whether they be pleasures that comfort us – indulgences that focus us away from
God – or sufferings that don’t recognise that God’s love is present with us. So
Paul warns: Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication,
impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).
These thing will weigh us down. But thanks be to God
that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God both watching over us and ruling
the world that seems against us. Never lose faith in God that he is in control
even if it does not look that way.
Paul reminds us that the wrath of God is coming on
those who are disobedient. God does not want to do that as St Peter reminds us
that the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to
come to repentance.
So until Jesus returns, remember you Baptism where you
were born again to new life to live with God forever. And when Christ returns –
your true glory will be revealed and you will be brought to your eternal home
forever.
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