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It is implied in this exhortation that the things above are —

I. KNOWN TO US. We may love the unseen, not the unknown. We know them through the Scriptures.

II. OURS. We may not set our hearts on what is not ours. But "all things are ours."

III. IF WE DO NOT SET OUR AFFECTIONS UPON THEM WE SHALL ON THINGS BELOW. Empty man's heart cannot be.

IV. THEY ARE THOSE AMID WHICH EVERY CHRISTIAN WILL SOON BE PLACED FOR ETERNITY. It becomes the pilgrims of time to visit by faith their future home.

V. THEY ARE FITTED AND WORTHY TO OCCUPY A CHRISTIAN'S SOUL. None else are.

VI. THEY HAVE A TRANSCENDENT EXCELLENCY. Note the Apocalyptic figures of them.

VII. THEY ENDURE FOR EVER. All else is perishable.

VIII. IN SETTING OUR AFFECTIONS ON THEM WE ARE CERTAIN OF SUCCESS. We can say this of nothing else.

IX. THEY BECOME DAILY MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT, WHILE THE THINGS OF EARTH GROW DAILY LESS SO. Every day lessens the duration of temporal things and brings us nearer to eternal things.

X. THEY CAST DOWN UPON US A TRANSFORMING BEAUTY. Man's heart never acts without being acted upon. Contact with the good sanctifies; communion with the happy gladdens. Conclusion: Seek these things then —

1. In the Scripture.

2. In Christ.

3. In the ministry of the gospel.

4. On the Sabbath.

5. In prayer.

(J. Cumming, D. D.)

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KJV: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

WEB: Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.