1You have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right side of God. 2Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth. 3For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3 (GNT)
Your true and established identity is not defined by superficial, subject to change, fleeting descriptions like your ethnicity, nationality, culture, language, civilization, socio-economic level or religion. You are more than your physical, mental, social and experiential aspects. You’re perfectly and conclusively defined by and in Christ. He is your eternal true identity. Therefore your focus should be on Christ.
You’re not your traditions, customs, training, behavior, environment, the things you’ve done, the things done to you, or the things you’ve gone through. All these are outward and fleeting. Christ is your real life.
Colossians 3:3-4 (AMPC) For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory.
This means you can’t be disadvantaged or disqualified before God and therefore in life, because you don’t fit in a certain category that the world defines as required for a sense of worth and success.
Christ is your real life means you are immensely loved, surpassingly valued, and totally accepted by God. There’s nothing wrong with you. You don’t need to perform and impress God to believe in you. He already believes the best of you. He created you in Christ. You’re His masterpiece. –See Ephesians 2:10. Your performance should be a result of knowing and thankfulness to the God who already unconditionally believes in you. Focus on Christ. Set your heart and mind on who He is to you and in you. Dwell on who you’re in Him. Conduct yourself based on who you’re and what you have in Christ. That’s how you are going to live to the fullest.