(Luke 9: 31) but these words do not cancel out the differences that we see exist between

the coming of Christ to the earth, and the hope of the believer of the Church of the One

Body. When James and John asked that they might sit, one on the right hand and the

other on the left "in the glory that is Thine" were they contemplating the blessed sequel to

being potentially "seated together in heavenly places"? If so, what value is there in the

principle of "Right Division", or what difference is there between the ministry of our

Lord, as the minister of the circumcision (Rom. 15: 8), and the testimony of our Lord,

and of Paul His prisoner?

Coming now to Col. 3:, we notice that the believer is enjoined to seek "those things

which are ABOVE". This supposes a different sphere and place, than that which holds

"things that are below" and this is justified by the adverb of place "where" that

immediately follows. "Where" does not denote quality, or quantity, but locality. The

affection of the believer here is to be focused on:

(1)

Where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

(2)

On things above, not on things that are on the earth.

The following parallels are eloquent:

A | Your LIFE

B | Is HID

C | With CHRIST

D | IN GOD

A | Our LIFE

B | Shall APPEAR

C | With HIM

D | IN GLORY

The pattern is complete. Point answers point and needs no advocate. If we are asked

the question "WHERE" are these believers' lives hid, there is only one answer "with

Christ IN GOD". If we are asked the question "WHERE will that life be manifested", we

can only answer "with Christ IN GLORY". If we lift these words "in glory" our of their

context and look upon them with the cold eye of the grammarian we can easily "prove"

that they can have no relationship with any particular place or a sphere of blessing, but if

we heed the exhortation of Col. 3: 1-3 we shall know "where" glory awaits us, whether

we can convince the gainsayer or not.

As we said earlier, truth is not expressed simply in terms that are just black and white,

it is expressed in terms that imply relationships. The glory for which we wait must be the

sequel of the position we occupy now by faith, for in every calling:

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for."