Colossenses 3

Colossenses 3

Stedman commenting on this section emphasizes that being a Christian means we have an extra dimension to life. There is a hidden resource, an invisible reality, which the world does not have and cannot see. This is not referring to Christ being "up in heaven," lost in space somewhere! Rather, this refers to what Paul has talked about earlier in this letter, "Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Col 1:27+) This extra dimension is not far removed in the reaches of space; it is right within the heart, an untouchable, invisible dimension within us. This is the glory of the Christian life and the secret of its power, joy and courage. If you have not discovered this yet as a Christian you have not yet begun to live as you can and should. This is what puts a smile on a Christian's face, even though he or she is in trouble. Set your hearts on this hidden resource, is Paul's exhortation. He means our affections. Think with affectionate gratitude of what the Lord Jesus has already done for you and what He is to you now. This is not a form of escapism. It is not something you try to keep your mind on all day long, to the exclusion of business, family or home. It is rather something that when your mind is occupied with your family, work problems, or whatever, you also bring into it this extra dimension. Christ is part of that situation. That is what Paul means when he says, "your life is hid with Christ in God." (Col 3:3+) Christ is involved with your activities. Remind yourself that whatever you are involved in includes also the person of the Lord himself. His wisdom, power and knowledge are all available to you (cp 1Co 2:16, 1Co 15:10, 2Co 3:5, 6, Php 4:13+, 2Co 12:9+, 2Co 12:10+). That is what Paul means. It ought to awaken our loving gratitude. We are not only to set our affections, but are also to "set our minds on things above." "Things within" would be a better translation. Paul is talking about our wills, our choices. Decide to do what you know from your knowledge of the Word of the Lord He wants you to do. That is the secret of a life that has discovered how to really live. Your life, your daily activity, your thoughts are now tied to Christ. You do wrong if you separate yourself from Him. You belong to Him (1Cor 6:19+, 1Co 6:20+,Titus 2:14+, 1Pe 2:9+, 2Co 5:15, Ro 14:7, 8, 9+). The old godless, self-directed life is over, if you have become a Christian (cp 2Co 5:17+). (Col 3:1-11 True Human Potential) (Bolding added) John MacArthur has some interesting and practical thoughts on living life on earth with a proper perspective of our relationship to heaven… I really believe with all my heart and I thought a lot about this, that before we can reach the world we have to leave it. And maybe that sounds paradoxical, but it really isn't. Before we reach the world we are going to have to leave the world. In John 8… Jesus said, "Ye are from beneath, I am from above. Ye are of this world, I am not of this world." (Jn 8:23) Jesus, even though He came into the world, He reached the world from the vantage point above the world. The only way to really reach the world is to leave the world or to be from without the world, and to bring to the world a divine dimension. In John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world, if my kingdom were of this world then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now is my kingdom not from here. Again Jesus emphasized that the vantage point from which he reached the world was not the world, but above the world… Ro 12:1, 2 (12:1 note; 12:2 note)… "I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your body a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God which is your spiritual worship and be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." Jesus reached the world from a vantage point beyond the world and The apostle Paul says that we are going to reach the world also when we are no longer of the world. (cp Jn 17:5, Titus 2:12+, 1Jn 4:17)… When John says, be Christ in the world, how can these two be brought together? It's very simple really? It isn't complicated. You know it already. It's simply this. Your inside lives in heaven and your outside lives here. That's all. And I really am convinced, I know you are, you who know and love Christ, and know His word. I know you are equally convinced that until a Christian in his heart and his soul and his mind has learned to live his spiritual life in the heavenlies he will never be able to touch the earth with the truth of God. It won't happen. I was reading about Robert Murray McCheyne as he was evaluated by some of the people who knew him and this is one man's comment, he said this of him: The man of whom I speak seems to have got up to the full height and to have entered into the secret places of the holiness of God. Here was a man who knew Robert Murray McCheyne the great preacher. He seemed to have dwelt in the secret places of the holiness of God. The man went on, when he preached the gospel you could see strong men, hard and stern, melt like wax before the fire. Their breasts would swell and heave as if they would burst and the whole place became a place of weepers. Now there is a man who touched the world. There is a man who reached the world, and the comment of a man who observed was, the reason he reached the world was because he lived in the presence of God (Living the Risen Life) Note that Paul begins this section on "practical Christianity" by emphasizing the believer's relationship with Christ. He does not begin immediately with a list of prohibitions but with a command to maintain a heavenly, Christ-centered mind, a renewed mind which should motivate us to live a life of death to our passions and desires - to live no longer for self but to live for Christ. And so Paul first charges us to focus on what Christ has done for us. Then he gives us practical guidance on how to live out this truth enabled by the Spirit and grace of Christ. So Colossians 3:1 first points the reader back (therefore) to the "sound doctrine" which describes the present possession of every believer -- "Christ in (us) the hope of glory" (Col 1:27+) which is one way of describing every believer's intimate union with the risen Christ [cf Col 2:11, 12+, Col 2:19+]. This living and active truth makes it possible for us to now live the supernatural life Paul describes in Colossians 3:5-4:6. I like how S Lewis Johnson describes the juncture between the first 2 doctrinal chapters and the last 2 "duty" chapters: The CROSS, the focus of history, redemption and the godly life, has two sides: it involves a death, and it was followed by a resurrection. Both of these aspects are related to the believer. The one serves his connection with the past life, the other introduces him to a new life in union with Christ. Not only are we, by God’s grace, to abandon the pre-death life, but we are to aspire to the post-resurrection life… The age to which believers belong by virtue of the CROSS is really the coming age, and that age is to be the center of their life. The Forerunner, who has accomplished the work which guarantees the coming of the new age, now sits to dispense the blessings of it. (Studies in the Epistle to the Colossians Part IX: Human Taboos and Divine Redemption - see also his sermon on Colossians 3:1-4 Christ Our Life, Now and Then) Warren Wiersbe makes an excellent point that… We must keep in mind that the pagan religions of Paul’s day said little or nothing about personal morality. A worshiper could bow before an idol, put his offering on the altar, and go back to live the same old life of sin. What a person believed had no direct relationship with how he behaved, and no one would condemn a person for his behavior. But the Christian faith brought a whole new concept into pagan society: What we believe has a very definite connection with how we behave! After all, faith in Christ means being united to Christ; and if we share His life, we must follow His example. He cannot live in us by His Spirit and permit us to live in sin (cp 1Jn 3:7, 8, 9 where "cannot sin" = cannot sin as a lifestyle). (Bible Exposition Commentary - New Testament ) Darrell Bock adds that… Paul's attitude to (the false teacher's) invitation to super spirituality (Ed: The false teacher's were exhorting the saints to pursue legalism, asceticism and mysticism) is condemnation. He says that this road really is a disqualification of what Christ gained (Col 2:18+). It is a shadow (Col 2:17+), not the substance of life. In fact, it fails to check the flesh and is of no value (Col 2:23+). It ignores Christ, who is the source of growth for the body (Col 2:19+). That is why Paul calls it a philosophy that comes from human tradition and the world, a philosophy that is really deceitful (Col 2:8+). It is important to observe that Paul's complaint about philosophy is not an attack on the syllogisms of atheism, but on a movement that had God and divine things in view, but in a way that distorted what Christ provided. This desire "to experience heaven" also explains why Paul uses so much heavenly language in describing what Christ has done. The concept of being raised with Christ and setting one's mind on the things above means that the believer already has established a relationship with the divine forces of heaven, so that a trip into God's presence is unnecessary. God has not called His church to withdraw and await a great future experience of Himself, but to engage the world with the (supernatural) kind of life that reflects the attributes that reflect the character and righteous morality of those who know God (Col 3:1-17). They can do this boldly, because they know that one day God will complete what he has started (Php 1:6) and will take them to Himself in glory (Jn 14:3, 1Th 4:17, 18+, 1Co 15:51, 52, 53). Asceticism is not the way to heaven: faith in Jesus is. Thus Paul comes to focus on the call of the church to know God's will and to reflect what it means to belong to the "new man (see note)."… So ultimately Colossians is about the work of the Father in the Son on behalf of a people He calls to manifest His message and presence on earth. This new community is to realize that all the benefits God has already given are all that is needed to accomplish the task of living a life that is honoring to God (cp 2Pe 1:3, 4+). Any suggestion that someone needs anything more than to appropriate what Christ already makes available is a delusion (Col 2:4+). Blessing comes from God through the Lord Jesus Christ alone, and a life that pleases God draws on what the Mediator (1Ti 2:5, He 8:6+, He 9:15+, He 12:24+) and Enabler (cp Php 4:13+) provides. (Colossians, Theology of - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology) Paul Apple introduces Colossians 3:1-11 which he entitles Focus on Follow Through. Big Idea: The key to spirituality is living out our union with Christ. Today we come to a very exciting section of the Book of Colossians and yet a very humbling section. It is exciting because Paul is ready to unfold for us the True Key to Spirituality. He is making the transition from the more doctrinal section of Colossians 1-2 where he had been teaching the Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ and warning against false approaches to spirituality to the more practical section of Colossians 3-4. It is humbling because we are brought face to face with the simplicity of the Christian life and feel exposed by the large gap between our positional sanctification and our practical sanctification … between how God views us in Christ and how consistently we are actually living… when we come face to face with the simplicity of True Spirituality in terms of living out our union with Christ in His death and His resurrection we are exposed and humbled … and yet excited at the same time - We are already positionally sanctified - We are destined for glory – no doubt about it - We have the opportunity today to live out the life of Christ within us But we are in the midst of a constant Struggle (Gal 5:17+, 2Cor 10:3, 4, 5+, 2Cor 6:7, 1Pe 2:11+, 1Ti 1:18, 6:12) that Requires Focus and Follow Through. It requires a Putting off of the Old Man and a Putting on of the New Man (Colossians) YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED UP WITH CHRIST: sunegerthete (2PAPI) to Christoi: Col 2:12;13+, Col 2:20+ Ro 6:4+, Ro 6:5+, Ro 6:9, 10+, Ro 6:11+ Gal 2:19, Gal 2:20+, Gal 5:24+, 2Cor 5:14+ Eph 1:19+, Ep 1:20+, Ep 2:5+, Ep 2:6+ Colossians 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Colossians 3:1-4 Living the Risen Life - John MacArthur THE TRANSFORMING TRUTH OF OUR CO-RESURRECTION Therefore (oun) if (if then - 1st class conditional = since) you have been raised up (play You Raise Me Up) with (aorist - past completed action = when you believed; passive - divine passive; indicative = reality) Christ keep seeking (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) the things above (ano) where Christ is (present tense = continually), seated (as Great High Priest) at the right hand of God Notice that in Colossians 3:1 the indicative mood (of the verb "raised" = this is a fact) precedes the imperative mood ("keep seeking" = this is a command). The former (indicative) describes the reality a believer's life, a truth which should motivate the keeping of the command (imperative). Right belief is always a firm foundation for right (righteous) behavior. An understanding and appropriation of a believer's death, burial and resurrection with Christ is crucial to living out the supernatural Christ life (cp Gal 2:20+). It is not just "Let go and let God". Believers have a "holy debt" if you will, a solemn responsibility (Php 2:12+) because of what Christ has accomplished on our behalf on the "Old Rugged Cross". And so here at the beginning of the practical section Paul in essence summarizes the sound doctrine which he had explained earlier… (Believers) having been buried with Him (Christ) in baptism (not speaking of water, but of our identification with Christ-see baptizo), in which you were also raised up with Him through faith (i.e., when you first believed in Christ) in the working of God, Who raised Him from the dead. And when you were (spiritually) dead in your transgressions (Ep 2:1) and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him (past tense event), having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross… you have died with Christ to the elementary principles ("ABC's") of the world… (Col 2:12,13+, Col 2:20+) Writing to the Roman saints Paul declared… Therefore (because you have been "baptized into Christ Jesus [and] have been baptized into His death" Ro 6:3+) we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (Ro 6:4+) In his letter to the Ephesian saints Paul explained that… even when we were dead in our transgressions (before we believed in Christ), (God) made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus (Ep 2:5+, Ep 2:6+) Horatius Bonar in his excellent sermon on Colossians 3:1-4 says… The condition, then, of a saint, is one of certainty (Ed: "If" = certainty). That certainty is this--he is risen with Christ. It is not that he ought to be risen, or that he hopes to be risen--but that he has risen. This is the blessed fact that forms the commencement of his history as a saint. This event stands at the very threshold of his career; no, constitutes its outset. His life is the life of a risen One. His story is that of one who has risen. He cannot tell of his change without telling of resurrection. He cannot speak of his new course and conversation, without referring to resurrection. He cannot account for the high level on which he stands, or the privileges which encompass him, or the hopes that rise before him, save by tracing all these back to this one fountain-head, resurrection. What, then, is the meaning of this fact or event in the life of a saint, which forms the commencement of his history? It cannot in any way be understood of the resurrection of the body, which is the Church's hope. For that is altogether future; and is, besides, connected with the second coming of the Lord (see 1Th 4:16, 1Co 15:51,52, See discussion of The Two Resurrections - "First" and "Second" - on a timeline), whereas this is connected with His first. The privilege or blessing, pointed at by the apostle here, is something past, something which had commenced when they believed (Ro 6:4, 5+, Ep 2:5+, Ep 2:6+, Col 2:12, 13+); whereas the resurrection of the body is still a thing for which we wait and long. (Colossians 3:1-4 The Risen Christ and the Things Above). Go up, reluctant heart, Take up thy rest above; Arise, earth-clinging thoughts; Ascend, my lingering love. BONAR LOOKING up for the Spirit through Jesus Christ is the only effectual attitude for obtaining love to God. CHALMERS Raised up with (4891)(sungeiro from sun = together + egeiro = to raise) which means to raise together (used also in Col 2:12+; Eph 2:6+). Aorist tense indicates our resurrection with Christ is a past tense, completed action, which was reckoned true in our life the moment we by grace thru faith received Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord (Col 2:12+). We were raised spiritually when Christ was raised physically and this identification (because we are now in an everlasting, unbreakable covenant with our Lord) is the foundation truth for our new spiritual position and our new power to walk in newness of life (Ro 6:4+). Have been raised up with is also in the passive voice which signifies the power to bring about our resurrection was from outside of us, specifically from God. Note that sunegeiro uses the prefix sun not meta. This may seem to be a small point but it conveys a profound truth because sun [word study] in contrast with meta speaks of an intimate and irrevocable association with another, in this case with the risen and exalted Christ. Can you see the implications if our life is intimately bound with Christ? Clearly His infinite, inexhaustible resurrection power is available to all believers! Oh, how often do we life like spiritual paupers, when we are children of the Almighty God and have access to all the resources of the King of kings! Lord we pray that "the eyes of (our) heart may be enlightened, so that (we) may know what is… the surpassing greatness of (Your) power (see what this power did in Ep 1:20, 21) toward us who believe." Amen (Eph 1:18, 19+) The internal (eternal) change wrought by our co-resurrection with Christ should lead to an external change. If not then perhaps we need to ponder 2Cor 13:5+. Our holy position should show itself to be the "real thing" by our holy practice (direction not perfection). Emphasizing our new life in Christ Paul explained to the Galatians that… through the Law I died to the Law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ (perfect tense = past completed act with present continuing effect/result connoting permanence of our co-crucifixion. In short, we cannot be "un" crucified! Another strong evidence against the false teaching that you can lose your salvation!); and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me. (Gal 2:19,20-note) Spurgeon compares our co-resurrection to the metaphor of a seed The buried seed rises from the ground, but not as a seed, for it puts forth green leaf, and bud, and stem, and gradually develops expanding flower and fruit, and even so we wear a new form (2Cor 5:17-+), for we are renewed after the image of him that created us in righteousness and holiness… There was corruption in our mind and it was working irresistibly towards every evil and offensive thing. In many the corruption did not appear upon the surface, but it worked within; in others it was conspicuous and fearful to look upon. How great the change! For now the power of corruption within us is broken, the new life has overcome it, for it is a living and incorruptible seed which liveth and abideth for ever (1Pe 1:23+). Corruption is upon the old nature, but it cannot touch the new, which is our true and real self. Is it not a great thing to be purged of the filthiness which would have ultimately brought us down to Tophet where the fire unquenchable burns, and the worm undying feeds upon the corrupt?… Let us think of this (our spiritual resurrection with Christ), for our Lord did not have his head quickened while his feet remained in the sepulcher; but he rose a perfect and entire man, alive throughout. Even so have we been renewed in every part (Ed: Our position). We have received, though it be but in its infancy, a perfect spiritual life: we are perfect in Christ Jesus (Positionally speaking - cp Col 2:10+). In our inner man our eye is opened, our ear is awakened, our hand is active, our foot is nimble: our every faculty is there, though as yet immature, and needing development, and having the old dead nature to contend with… On the day of our quickening (our new birth, our regeneration) we bid farewell to spiritual death, and to the sepulcher wherein we slept under sin’s dominion (Ro 6:11+). Farewell, thou deadly love of sin; we have done with thee! Farewell, dead world, corrupt world; we have done with thee! Christ has raised us. Christ has given us eternal life. We forsake for ever the dreary abodes of death, and seek the heavenly places. Our Jesus lives, and because he lives we shall live also, world without end. (References added) (Excerpt from Following the Risen Christ) Spurgeon goes on to describe the implications of our resurrection with Christ… I. OUR SPIRITUAL RISING WITH CHRIST. The “if” is used logically, not theologically, by way of argument, and not by way of doubt. 1. We were dead in sin, but having believed in Christ we have been quickened by the Holy Ghost, and we are dead no longer. We remember the first sensation of life, how it seemed to tingle just as drowning persons when coming back to life suffer great pain. Conviction was wrought in us, and a dread of judgment, and a sense of condemnation, but these were tokens of life, but that life gradually deepened until the eye was opened, and the restored hand stretched itself out, the foot began to move in the way of obedience, and the heart felt the sweet glow of love within. 2. There has been wrought in us a wonderful change. Before regeneration our soul was as our body will be when it dies. (1) Sown in corruption. In some cases it did not appear on the surface; in others it was something fearful to look upon. Now the new life has overcome it, for it is an incorruptible seed, and liveth for ever. (2) In dishonour. Sin is a shameful thing; but “behold what manner of love” (1Jn 3:1). “Since thou wast precious in my sight,” etc. “Unto you which believe He is an honour.” (3) In weakness. When we were the captives of sin we could do nothing good; but “when we were without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Now we know the power of His resurrection” (John 1:12; Php 4:13). (4) A natural body. Aforetime we were natural men, and discerned not the things of the Spirit of God. Now a spirit has been created in us which lives for spiritual objects. 3. In consequence of receiving this life and undergoing this change the things of the world become a tomb to us. To a dead man a tomb is as good a dwelling as he can want; but the moment he lives he cannot endure it.. So when we were natural men earthly things contented us. (1) A merely outward religion satisfied us; a dead form suited a dead soul. Judaism pleased those who put themselves under its yoke; traditions, ordinances make pretty furniture for a dead man’s chamber; but when eternal life enters the soul they are flung off. A living man demands such garments as are suitable for life. 2. Merely carnal objects become as the grave to us, whether sinful pleasures or selfish gains. They are as a coffin to the renewed man: he cries for liberty. 4. We are wholly raised from the dead in a spiritual sense. Our Lord did not have His head quickened while His feet were in the sepulchre. So we have been renewed in every part. We have received, although it be in its infancy, a perfect life in Christ Jesus; our ear is awakened, our eye opened, our feet nimble. 5. We are so raised that we shall die no more. “Christ being raised, death hath no more dominion,” etc. So we. II. LET US EXERCISE THE NEW MAN IN SUITABLE PURSUITS. 1. Let us leave the sepulchre. (1) The vault of a mere outward religion, and worship God in Spirit and in truth. (2) The vault of carnal enjoyments. These ought to be as dead things to the man who is risen with Christ. 2. Let us hasten to forget every evil as our Lord hastened to leave the tomb. He made the three days as short as possible;. so let there be no lingering and hankering after the flesh. 3. As our Lord spent a short season with His disciples, we are to spend our forty days in holy service. (1) In greater seclusion from the world and greater nearness to heaven. (2) In testimony, even as He manifested Himself, to the resurrection power of God. (3) In comforting the saints. (4) In setting everything in order for the furtherance of His kingdom. 4. Let our whole minds ascend to heaven with Christ; not a stray thought. (1) Because we need heavenly things, prize them, and hope to gain them. (2) After heavenly things, faith, hope, etc. (3) Heavenly objects — the glory of God, not your own; the good of man. (4) Heavenly joys. Your treasure is above, let your hearts be with it. 5. What a magnet Christ should be. Where should the wife’s thoughts be but with her absent and beloved one? (1) Christ is sitting, for His work is done; rise and rest with Him. (2) At the right hand of God, in the place of honour and favour. III. LET THE NEW LIFE DELIGHT ITSELF WITH SUITABLE OBJECTS. “Have a relish for things above”; “study them industriously”; “set your mind on them.” What are they? 1. God Himself. “Delight thyself in the Lord.” What is all the world if He be gone; and if you have Him, what though all the world be gone? 2. Jesus who is God, but truly man. Meditate on His Divine Person, His perfect work, etc. 3. The New Jerusalem of the Church triumphant. 4. Heaven, the place of holiness after sin, of rest after work, of riches after poverty, of health and life after sickness and death. (Read Spurgeon's full sermon on Col 3:1-2 Following the Risen Christ) Everett Harrison entitles this section "ATTACHMENT TO CHRIST (Col 3:1–4)" Although the watershed of the epistle has been reached, a hinge, then, binds what follows to what has gone before. Not without justice W. R. Nicholson entitles this paragraph “the true asceticism.” As pointed out in chapter 2, the false asceticism finds its fleshly gratification in its rigors toward the body; and this gratification, as an expression of pride and superiority, is just as reprehensible as the baser forms of physical indulgence. In the proper sense of the term, Christian life is the other-worldly life, for it finds in the contemplation of the celestial the inspiration and strength to manifest a transformed experience while still a part of the terrestrial scene. But this celestial outlook is no mere stargazing. It is the uplifting of the eyes of the heart to Christ, who has now returned to His heavenly home. This preoccupation with “things which are above” is not born of wistfulness, as though one can find relief from the pressures of the world only by looking to a better world. It is not an effort to detach oneself, to find escape. Rather, it is the attitude found in Christ during the days of His flesh, who lived in the bosom of the Father even as He continued His strenuous labors among the children of men. The heavenly realm belongs to the saints; they have their citizenship there (Phil 3:20ASV). Their resurrection with Christ, which Paul states as a fact rather than something clouded by uncertainty (cf. Col 2:12), would be meaningless if it did not involve participation in the heavenly, glorified life of the Saviour with ultimate union in the future, despite the present separation. But life in this world is not conducive to the maintenance of this heavenly tie, so that some resolution is needed—“seek those things which are above.” Lest one stray into contemplation of glories not yet revealed, rivaling the false teachers in their visions, the apostle at once directs attention to Christ seated “on the right hand of God.” His position attests His finished work (Heb 1:3) and proclaims His dignity and power (Ps 110:1–2; Phil 2:9–11). So the seeking of things above is not to be confused with aspiration after the so-called higher things of life idealistically considered, however legitimate they may be; but rather it points to the things that belong to resurrection life. (Ed: "the highest life!") Christians are not immune to the pull of the temporal and material. They need to be seeking all the time the things that belong to the kingdom of God and His righteousness lest they be caught up in worldly pursuits that rob them of spiritual peace and power. (Borrow Colossians: Christ All-Sufficient - page 74) ><>><>><> D L Moody - I have known men who have been up in balloons, and they have told me that when they want to rise higher they just throw out some of the sand with which they ballast the balloon. Now, I believe one reason why so many people are earthly-minded and have so little of the spirit of heaven, is that they have got too much ballast in the shape of love for earthly joys and gains; and what you want is to throw out some of the sand, and you will rise higher. ><>><>><> C. H.