Colossians 3:1-2, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

       Jesus Christ is risen!!! He has ascended and is bodily seated on the right-hand of God the Father, making intercession for us. Romans 8:34, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” What a precious Scripture! Jesus is in Heaven, interceding as our High Priest. 1st Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

Hebrews 4:15-16, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Jesus Christ is our heavenly High Priest, Who by His own blood has made possible access for every Christian unto the throne of God the Father. What a privilege!!!

Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” As humanity we cannot fellowship with God the Father, but we can fellowship with the man Christ Jesus; and then the deity of our Lord fellowships with God the Father on our behalf. This is why 1st Timothy 2:5 says that there is one MEDIATOR between God and men, the man Christ Jesus! This is why Jesus proclaimed in John 14:6 that NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME!!! Jesus is the only way to God the Father, because He is the God-man! This is sound Biblical doctrine. What a precious truth!

Dr. Jack Hyles (1926-2001) teaches concerning Christ's deity and prayer in his wonderful book, EXPLORING PRAYER WITH JACK HYLES. In chapter 7, PRAYER AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD, pastor Hyles states...

Since the Son influences the Father, if we can influence the Son, we can influence the Father. John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 15:7, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." We have to come through the Son to the Father. Now the key to this is the Son's union with the Father and our union with the Son. Psalm 37:4, "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

This is why the unbelieving Jew cannot pray. This is why the liberal who denies the deity of Jesus cannot pray. It IS true that mortal men cannot determine the actions of a sovereign God, but the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, can determine the actions of His Father, and since Jesus is the God-man of the trinity, this very nature makes it possible. Man could not enter into a union with God, but as God, Jesus can, and God could not enter into a union with man, but as man, Jesus can. So we contact the Man, Christ Jesus, and the Father contacts the God, Christ Jesus; hence, man contacts God through His Counsellor, and our Saviour, the God-man, Christ Jesus.

SOURCE: EXPLORING PRAYER WITH JACK HYLES; chapter 7

Having said that, how clear it is that we ought to set our affections on heavenly things instead of the cares, riches and pleasures of this temporal earthly life (Luke 8:14). Nearly everyone is thinking about this world, living selfishly from day-to-day, struggling to get ahead in a world of make believe. It's all wood, hay and stubble according to 1st Corinthians 3:12, which will be burned up at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Every day of our life we should purpose to accomplish something for the Lord's sake and the gospel's. One hundred years from now this is all that will matter for believers today. What did we do for OTHERS in the Lord? Nothing else really matters.

Many people are doing charitable works, but they are not doing them in Jesus' name. They aren't concerned about leading lost souls to the Lord. They are building upon a foundation of self-righteousness, humanism and often for mere financial profits; but they are not building upon the only foundation which is laid, which is Christ Jesus. 1st Corinthians 3:11, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Everything that we do as Christian believers ought to be based in the things of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:21).

Phooey on charity that leaves off the gospel. Phooey on Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) that abandons the doctrine of Christ. Phooey on motivation speaking which has replaced old-time preaching in America's church pulpits. Phooey on secular psychology which has replaced the inspired Words of God. Phooey on the apostate Ecumenical Movement, which has inoculated churchgoers by giving them just enough religion to prevent them from coming to the truth of God's Word. We need to get back to the Bible! SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!!! (John 5:39).

May we all set our thoughts, feelings and decisions upon things above in Heaven, where Jesus Christ literally and bodily intercedes for all believers on the Father's right-hand.

Let's pass out more Gospels of John, more gospel tracks, more Christian literature. Let's post more Christian content on the internet that brings glory to God. Let's speak less gossip, less idle words and less flattery of others. Literally, if we'd think more about Heaven throughout the day, it would revolutionize our life. It would affect the things we say, the places where we go and the way we treat others.

If you speak to a person (or group of people) and afterwards realize that you failed to share the gospel with them, it should bother you. It sure does me. I am convicted when I fail to remember to witness to people concerning Jesus. Usually I just completely forget, because I don't feel well or am caught up in the cares of the moment. I often go out looking for people to witness to because I'm upset that I missed an opportunity the day before. But you know what, I witness to a lot more people than most people do. Why? Because the Holy Spirit convicts me when I fail to do so.

The sad fact is that most people don't care about the things of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:21). This sadly includes professed believers. Nearly everyone today is going to Hell. 1st John 5:19 says that THE WHOLE WORLD LIETH IN WICKEDNESS. There are FEW THAT BE SAVED.

Ephesians 5:16, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”