Ainsley Poulos on Colossians

"Hi" to those of you who came up and said "hi" at the Belgrave Heights Women's Convention. It was lovely to see some of you in the flesh!

It was a great day. I've been asked to share what we heard with you. I thought I'd start with Ainsley Poulos' talks on Colossians.

Ainsley reminded us that we live simultaneously in two ages: this age, and the age to come. When Jesus rose from the dead, he ushered in the new age. We've been raised with Christ, united to him, made complete in him. Yet we wait for his return, when the age to come will be all that there is (C0l. 3:1-4).

So we don't feel at home here, or experience heaven yet: we live in the now and the not yet.

We are united to Christ, in whom is all the fullness of God, and all wisdom and knowledge. Who is supreme over creation, and who holds it all together. Who has triumphed over every power, visible and invisible. Who has reconciled us to God through his death on the cross (Col. 1:13-20; 2:1-12).

We live in an age besotted with the spirit-world. Jesus is head over the spirit-world. To go to a clairvoyant, or read our horoscope, or boast of spiritual experiences, is to exchange priceless jewels for junk (Col. 2:18-19).

We are already united to Christ. Nothing can get us closer to Christ than we are now: no spiritual disciplines, no fasting, no worship. We don't need to call God down: he is here with us.

If it matters who you're united to in marriage, how much more does it matter who we're united to spiritually! Like Princess Mary of Denmark, whose marriage changed everything about her - her speech, her walk, her life - so union with Christ changes everything.

But we don't often feel like this. Why is it so hard? Why is life such a struggle? If I'm united to Christ, why don't I act like it? Why don't I look like a woman of the resurrection?

Because we live in the "now and the not yet". Because there's a difference between fact and feeling. Because "even a dead dog can swim with the current" - but we swim against it. Because the heavy hand of God rests on this world. Because God never promises a smooth journey: but he does promise a safe landing.

Don't believe the lie, "It's not the destination, but the journey." It's the destination which gives the journey meaning.

In the meantime, we "labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works" in us (1 Cor. 1:28-2:1). We refuse to be deceived by "fine-sounding arguments" (Col. 2:3, 8) which tell us complete victory over sin is available now. We put sin to death, clothe ourselves with love, live in peace with another, and set our hearts and minds on things above (Col. 3:1-17).

We think of sins like lust as male failings, but what about women (Col. 3:5)? Many women read books, go to movies, or watch TV shows, and move into fantasy land, dreaming about a man who would love, hold and protect us, but who is not our husband. We are to put this kind of thinking to death.

Who is in your grandstand? Whose cheers and boos do you listen to? There should be only one person in your grandstand - only one person whose opinion matters to you - and that is God.

Christ is at work with all his power to safely take us home, and no power, human or supernatural, can stop him. We have been raised with Christ. We can't be closer to him than we are right now. Now is the time to become who we are.

If you'd like to hear Ainsley's talks on Colossians, contact Belgrave Heights Convention.

Tomorrow, I'd like to share with you what Heather Reid taught about motherhood in the seminar we led together; the next day, I'll share what I said about motherhood.