The young couple moved fifty miles from where they’d lived for the previous nine years, into their new home. They moved several pieces of furniture from the old house into the new place. Making a few trips upstairs with children’s items, the Dad, with some groaning, was heard to say, “This is the last time I’m moving!” Sure, it’s more work and time-consuming than people want to put into most jobs. Sometimes it’s necessary, and other times it is wanted.
How do you feel about moving?
When was your last move? How far from “home” did you go? Some folks have moved across our country, while others have packed up and moved to a foreign country. This is for employment.
However, moving from one place to another does not always require a change in proximity to family and friends. It may only require a change in status in life. After being introduced through the Bible to Jesus, one young man remarked that until he knew God, he didn’t know what love really is. He made a dynamic transition— a major move in and to life!
“We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth…” (Colossians 1:3-6).
After making the move to Jesus, by faith, the apostle Paul had them in his heart for prayer. At this moment prayers are being offered up to heaven on your behalf. This is done with the hope that one day you too will move allegiance from self, and make the transition to Jesus.
Those Christians at Colossae made the move from self-satisfaction to self-denial, when they placed all their trust and hope in Jesus. They had no hope of heaven before making that move to Jesus. They had no desire to bear fruit for Jesus. Now, Paul tells them, your “hope (is) laid up for you in heaven.”
More next time as we look into your making the move to Jesus.