‘If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated on the right hand of God.'
The Christian's concentration is to be on heavenly things (‘go on seeking continually' - present tense) because he was raised there when he first believed and received life from the Spirit. For by receiving the Spirit he was partaking in the resurrection life of Christ, and being made one with Christ. Christ was raised there, and he was raised there ‘together with Christ'.
Thus the Christian dwells in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:1-6), the spiritual realm. And he has direct access to the throne of Christ. This is not just a pious fiction but a reality. It is partial, for he does not yet see the full glory of God (1 Corinthians 13:12), but it is nevertheless genuine. His spirit has been made alive by the Spirit of God and in his spirit he has access into the spiritual realm where Christ is. It is in a sense a parallel universe with this one. It is not ‘up there'. It is here, and yet not accessible to the unbelieving world unless they too repent and believe.
Compare how when his eyes were opened Jacob saw a flight of stairs between earth and heaven, with spiritual beings ascending and descending (Genesis 28:12), and going their way in their activity on the earth, as expanded in Zechariah 1:8-11. He became aware of the spiritual realm. And how Elisha knows that he is surrounded by spiritual forces of great power, something his servant also becomes aware of once his eyes are opened (2 Kings 6:17). He too is aware of the spiritual realm. While these were revealed in terms that the observers could appreciate, what they revealed was genuine spiritual reality. So there are things around us that we can discern with the eye of faith. We are not to interfere with them or seek to contact them, but they are there acting on God's behalf, and on ours. For they are ‘ministering spirits sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation' (Hebrews 1:14). Each child who believes has his angel who is aware of what happens to him (Matthew 18:10).
The Christian lives in both the physical and the spiritual universes. He knows that he has his part in Christ's throne in the heavenlies at the right hand of God, the position of supreme authority and divine action, where his spirit has access through the Spirit (Ephesians 2:18; Hebrews 10:19), and there he walks and talks with Christ (Colossians 1:10; Colossians 2:6), and walks in the light (1 John 1:7; Ephesians 5:8), and he knows that he lives in this world as an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), as a citizen of Heaven (Philippians 3:20). He has constant contact with that other world through prayer, and direct contact with the Father and the Son. And while he is in this world, he is not of it (John 15:19; John 17:14-16; Galatians 1:4). He has spiritual affairs to engage in which this world knows nothing about.
So having been raised together with Christ, that is having received heavenly life through believing and receiving the Spirit, the Christian is to seek those things which are above, those things which are the concern of the throne. His concern is to be with the affairs of the court of Heaven and the extension of Christ's kingship in the earth (Matthew 28:19). His concern is to be with the maturing of all believers (Galatians 6:1-2), especially the babes, and those still partly gripped by the flesh. His concern is to show Heaven's love to the world by his Christlike actions (Matthew 5:16).
‘If then you were raised together with Christ.' This idea of participating with Christ in His resurrection in the past tense, as having happened to us, was taught by Jesus Himself in John 5:24-25. It was also clearly in Paul's mind in his earlier teaching (Romans 6:3; Romans 6:11; Romans 8:10; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:10). But here and in Colossians 2:12 and Ephesians 2:6 he makes it totally explicit.
‘Where Christ is seated on the right hand of God.' This was the glorious Christian message. Christ has been highly exalted, and given the name above every name, the name of Yahweh (Philippians 2:9) because it is His by right. He has been exalted far above all (Ephesians 1:21). He has been given God's supreme authority (Matthew 28:18). He has been made both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). But the throne of God is not a passive throne. He rides on the wings of the wind (Psalms 18:10). He is active in His control over the universe. And we are to share in that activity. (How then could we possibly waste time in becoming involved in false asceticism?).