24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. – Acts 20:24

1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your[a] life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. – Colossians 3:1-4

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20

Paul counted his life worth nothing compared to finishing the assignment God had given him. From the moment he was transformed by Jesus on the road to Damascus Paul lived out every detail of his life with extreme focus to do God’s will. Paul lived for eternity. He lived in the reality of heaven. Loving the Lord with all your soul happens when you are living in the reality of heaven. Paul shows us that in order to live in the reality of heaven, you must learn to think about the things of heaven. This happens when you begin to realize that you have died to this life and your real life is now hidden with Christ.

Do you live in the reality of heaven? Are your thoughts set on heaven or this earth? Have you died to this life? 

In v. 5 Paul says we must put to death whatever is earthly lurking within us. This happens each day we decide to pick up our cross and follow Jesus and crucify the desires of our flesh. It is something we must consciously decide to do every day. When something dies in us, it hurts! Crucifying your pride and ego hurts. Putting to death your selfish desires hurts. Giving up your selfish dreams and idols is agonizing. The only way is the cross of Christ. We must bring them before the Lord and allow him to crucify them.