For you died, and your life is hid together with Christ in God. Whenever Christ, our life, should be manifested, then you also shall be manifested together with Him in glory.
Colossians 3: 3-4, Concordant New Testament
It was an interesting podcast discussion with a good friend this week. What begin with a discussion on living a "Blessed" life ended with the discussion turning to our life in Christ Jesus. That's right, I said my life in Jesus. I've written for some time of the belief that I have that it is Christ Jesus who lives in me. Yet, if I follow the words of the apostle Paul, it's more than that. For Jesus not only lives within me, Jesus IS my life. One might get sidetracked by Paul's declaration in Galatians, but make no mistake, it is Jesus who remains {Galatians 2:20}. How does this fit into the Christian narrative of a blessed life? Well, it doesn't as far as I can tell. Instead of the blessed life, we live the life of Christ. We experience what He does. We feel what He feels. This is the union life Jesus prayed for us in the garden {John 17:21}. The Father in Jesus, Jesus in the Father and our lives unified together in Them. Of course, this puts a different perspective on seeing life as we know it. Contrary to modern church teaching, Jesus has never been separated from us. It is Christ in Who's life we share. In good times, it is Jesus who laughs and celebrates with us. In hard times, it is Jesus who goes through them together with us. We need not ask, when difficult times arrive, 'Where are you, God?' For we know exactly where He can be found. Let's just say that I could have saved myself a lot of frustration had I known this truth of my life earlier. I could have avoided the stress of feeling alone in my struggles. I wonder, is this the reason Jesus proclaimed on the Mount of Olives that we should not worry {Matthew 6:25}? For Jesus definitely knows the stress that comes from worrying about life situations {Hebrews 4:15}. There is no situation we will ever find ourselves in that Jesus is not familiar with. And, if He is familiar with the situations which we face daily, we can trust that He will guide us through our life in Him.
For we have not a Chief Priest not able to sympathize with our infirmities, but One Who has been tried in all respects like us, apart from sin.
Hebrews 4: 15, Concordant New Testament
As I said, my wish is that I would have known the truth of my life in Jesus sooner. Yet, for reasons only known by the Father, my own revelation of Christ Jesus in me came later in life. I cannot complain all that much, who knows me better than God? For the Lord knew the time when my spirit would be willing to receive the truth of His Son which He would reveal in me {Galatians 1:15-16}. I have a feeling that this is the way that Christ will soon be revealed to others as well. For contrary to church doctrine, it was never the Lords desire that any of His children would perish {John 3:16-17}. We're all familiar with the traditional verse that God sent us His Son to save the world {John3:16}. Yet so many people either overlook or totally ignore the following verse. That Jesus did not come to judge the world, but that world may be saved THROUGH Him {John 3:17}. The way I see it, the Father has been going above and beyond to ensure that ALL of His children come to know Him (What father does not want to be known by his children?). Of course, not everyone will accept the Fathers revelation of Christ Jesus. Not everyone will come to know the Father as I do. However, it is written that ALL with proclaim that Jesus is Lord {Philippians 2:10-11}. It is the Fathers desire that all discover life in His Son.
"Do you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
John 14: 10 - 11, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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