Jesus and “Your” Life

Articles

Philip C. Strong
01/10/23 - Discipleship

Jesus did not leave heaven and come to earth as a man, live a sinless life, die cruelly on a cross, resurrect on the third day, and ascend back to heaven to intercede for us so that we could live a better life here.

Yes, I know that committing your life to Christ will undoubtedly enable you to live a more fulfilled life here, but such was not His purpose. In fact, “our” lives here are intended and supposed to be “overshadowed” by Him. If indeed we “have been raised up with Christ,” and truly “keep seeking the things above,” then “you have died” and “your life is hidden with Christ in God,” Col.3:1,3. Interestingly, the word translated as “hidden” is the Greek term krupto (from which our word “crypt” comes), and means to hide or conceal, cf. Matt.13:44; 25:18.

So, far from being Jesus’ purpose to enable us to “live our best life here” in the ways we might define and want, if we will “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Col.3:2), then “our” lives here are not nearly as important as it is that “Christ lives in me” because “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who lives” 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.2:20.

The point I’m trying to make is that a lot of Christians seem to be motivated to “seek Christ” primarily to improve “their” lives “here”- and such was just not Jesus’ purpose for coming, living, and dying for mankind. Please think about the following:

Jesus’ stated purpose was to “seek and save” our souls, Luke 19:10, not to allow us to live our “best life” here. To wit,
Did Lazarus live “the good life” here? The “rich man” surely did so while Lazarus “laid at his gate, covered with sores… longing to be fed with the crumbs… from the rich man’s table,” Luke 16:19-21. You tell me: Which one of these two led a “blessed” life? Surely it was Lazarus for he was “carried away by the angels” to eternal “comfort” and the blessings of heaven, Luke 16:22-25!
Likewise, which of the two thieves enjoyed a “blessed” life here on the earth? They both died on crosses, but the penitent one who understood who Jesus was and appealed to Him for eternal salvation was the one who was “blessed” with salvation, Luke 23:39-43!
And finally, consider the martyrs of Rev.6:9, who “had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained,” did they live a “blessed” life “here”?

So many today seem to come to Christ to repair or improve “their” lives in the “here” and “now.” If you have doubts about the true motivations for your “commitment” to Him, ask yourself (and answer soberly) a question, “Would I remain faithful and still ‘worship’ God if I lost my family, possessions, and health like Job did, Job 1:13-22? Jesus didn’t die on the cross so we could concentrate on and become consumed with the “things” of life “here,” but so that we could be saved and live with Him eternally in the “hereafter”! Which is more important to you? Which is your primary concern and focus? Do your thoughts, actions, and emotions confirm or deny your commitment to Christ and His Cause? “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon,” Matt.6:24. Is “your” family more important to you than “His”? Are “your” possessions more valuable to you than “His” “pearl of great price”? Is “your” life more important to you than “His”? Please think on these things- eternal life hangs upon your answers to these questions, “For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it,” Matt.16:25.