In an age of consumerism, when secular values have made self the center, heaven’s appeal is to turn from the tyranny of self-centeredness and the bondage of self-inflated importance and to place God at the center of our lives. For some, money is the center of their lives. For others, it is pleasure or power. For some, it may be sports, music, or entertainment. Revelation’s message is a clarion call to fear, respect, and honor God as life’s true center.
In a world dominated by consumerism, secular values have placed the self at the center, leading to a bondage of self-centeredness and self-inflated importance. However, Revelation’s message calls us to fear, respect, and honor God as the true center of our lives, turning away from the tyranny of material possessions, pleasure, power, and entertainment. The central issue in the final conflict is a battle for the mind, a battle of allegiance, authority, and commitment to God’s will. The Apostle Paul admonishes us to have the mind of Christ, allowing Jesus to shape our thinking, and filling our minds with the things of eternity. Therefore, the choice to fear God and make Him first in our lives is a volitional act of the will, whereby we purposely and deliberately choose to dwell on heavenly things, as opposed to the base things of the world. In this sermon, we will explore Matthew 6:33, Colossians 3:1-2, and Hebrews 12:1-2 to see what they tell us about making God the true center of our lives.
I. Matthew 6:33: Seek First the Kingdom of God
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus instructs us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to us. This verse emphasizes that the pursuit of God’s kingdom and His righteousness should be the primary focus of our lives. It is not money, pleasure, power, or any other thing that should be the center of our lives, but rather God and His kingdom. The Spirit of Prophecy says, “The Christian’s life should be one of constant growth, of increasing knowledge of God, of Christ, of the Holy Spirit, and a continual obtaining of fresh supplies of grace” (Steps to Christ, p. 93).
II. Colossians 3:1-2: Set Your Minds on Things Above
In Colossians 3:1-2, Paul urges us to seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. He instructs us to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. This passage tells us that our minds should be focused on eternal things, not on temporary things that will pass away. Ellen White writes, “The glory of heaven is in lifting up the Lord of heaven, the One who died on Calvary’s cross to save sinners” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 413).
III. Hebrews 12:1-2: Fix Your Eyes on Jesus
In Hebrews 12:1-2, the author encourages us to run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. This passage tells us that our focus should be on Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith. It is by fixing our eyes on Him that we can overcome the distractions and obstacles that come our way. Ellen White writes, “We must contemplate Christ, and, by beholding Him, we shall become transformed into His likeness” (Steps to Christ, p. 68).
Conclusion:
In conclusion, to make God the true center of our lives, we must seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, set our minds on things above, and fix our eyes on Jesus. We must consciously choose to allow Jesus to shape our thinking and fill our minds with the things of eternity, so that our actions reveal where our thinking process is. As we meditate on the true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy things, we will learn to have the mind of Christ, and our lives will be transformed. Ellen White writes, “The heart cannot be right with God while the mind is filled with thoughts of self, of worldly pleasure and profit. We must set our affections on things above, if we would be renewed in holiness” (Steps to Christ, p. 58).
Let us remember that the final battle in the great controversy is for the control of our thoughts. We must choose to allow God to be the center of our lives and to surrender our wills to His will. By doing so, we will experience true freedom, joy, and peace. Ellen White writes, “The Christian’s life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature” (Steps to Christ, p. 59).
May we continually seek to make God the true center of our lives, allowing Him to transform us into His likeness and to use us for His glory. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life. May we live each day with the mind of Christ, seeking to honor Him in all that we do.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8, NKJV).
karambi