If then 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. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Col 3:1–4)

The things of the earth correspond to this age, while the things above correspond to the Messiah who will administrate the judgment, resurrection, and glory of the age to come. We “will certainly be raised” with the Messiah (v. 1). Therefore, we ought to live during this age with a singular focus on the Messiah, who is at the right hand of God patiently waiting to make his enemies his footstool on the day of YHWH (cf. Ps. 110:1; Acts 2:33–35; Heb. 10:12–13). In line with the apocalyptic framework of history, we identify with the Messiah by lives of selfsacrifice—even embracing death in this age (cf. Rom. 8:17; 1 Cor. 15:31; 2 Cor. 4:11; Phil. 3:10; Col. 1:24)—so that we can identify with the Messiah in glory and resurrection at his appearing. -John P. Harrigan