Colossians: The Throne and the New Man (3:10,12)

.The eternal goal of God is poured out from the throne. The new Jerusalem is the culmination of man’s enjoyment of His life poured out from the throne. The churches in all localities are to typify, be a Testimony, or a lampstand of what it looks like to live by this throne. In Revelation, chapter 1-3 we see Christ ministering to the churches as the Spirit and the Word to produce the new man which will culminate in the new Jerusalem. To hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches is a church that is setting their affection on things above, on Christ, who is their life. Just consider Isaiah‘s experience in Isaiah 6. He was before the throne, witnessing endless praise, and exaltation of the Seraphim before the throne. He was distressed because of his uncleanness, and the uncleanness of the people of Israel. Well, God cared for Isaiah so that he could receive a Supply from the throne for that situation. Now compare this to our ability to come before the throne in Colossians 3:1-2. We are hidden with Christ in God! This is our situation today in relationship to the throne. We have all access to come boldly to the throne, live by the throne, to set our affections on the throne. There Christ, who is our life, is supplying us moment by moment with his life. Interceding for us. Ministrying for us. And above all administrating God’s eternal purpose to do something. That’s something is the creation of the new man which is foundational to the new Jerusalem which is above. The new man emerges on the Earth as believers set their affections on the throne, where we enjoy Christ as our constant life. "And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb in the middle of its street." (Revelation 22:1) We need revelation, however, to see that Christ is administrating continuously from before the throne for the life of all the churches: "John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is coming, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, And from Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood" (Revelation 1:4-5) Now "…, He who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:" (Revelation 2:1) "In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting on a high and lofty throne, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Seraphim hovered over Him, each having six wings: With two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to the other, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Jehovah of hosts; / The whole earth is filled with His glory. …Then I said, Woe is me, for I am finished! / For I am a man of unclean lips, / And in the midst of a people of unclean lips I dwell; / Yet my eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts." (Isaiah 6:1-5) "If therefore you were raised together with Christ, seek the things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things which are above, not on the things which are on the earth." (Colossians 3:1-2)