John 14:19b says, “Because I live, you also will live.” As Christians, our entire life is predicated on living in Christ. This life in Christ is also entirely based on how we see Christ. In fact, the whole of John 14:19 reads “Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.” Because we are people of faith, we look unto Him and we see Him. He is already sitting next to the Father, so the world does not see Him anymore, but we still see Him by faith, and we still see Him by the Spirit. Because we see Him, we know Him, and because we know Him, we know that our life depends on Him.
Our life in Christ is guided by our faith. The Word of God says the “just shall live by faith” – Romans 1:17. Sometimes we do not understand the effect of faith in our lives, but the truth is that our daily life is lived in faith. We go to bed at the night, and we believe we shall wake up in the morning; it is by faith. We travel by air to distant places trusting that we shall return all in one piece; it is by faith. We send our little children to school daily and expect that no harm shall befall them; it is by faith. We so much trust in the Lord that this faith that we express almost becomes a matter of course for us. So folks fear because they are people of little faith, but as we live our life in Christ we must continue to understand that the object of our faith is more important than the size of our faith. He has always proved Himself faithful. Even when we break faith with Him, He remains faithful.
Often it is our sin that stands in the way of our relationship with God. Our sins keep us from our lives in Christ. We however serve a merciful God. He is always kind and gracious to us. Colossians 2:13 says, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins”. Yes, God forgave all our sins. He however does not expect that we will continue to live life in sins because the Word of God says we cannot continue in sin and expect grace to abound (Romans 6:2). Our life of dependence on Christ can only continue when we continue to see Him by faith and be saved by the same. The moment we take our eyes off Christ we begin to lose our spiritual life and we become dead in the spirit. Those who are still waiting for the breath of life to be breathed into them are looking at those of us who are alive. If we continue to live as the dead live, then what is the incentive for the dead to come alive? In fact, only the living can breathe life into the dead for the dead to come alive. In any case, why would one who is alive in Christ want to live a life of death without Christ? Apostle Paul says it is foolish. “Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” – Galatians 3:3. May that not be our portion in Jesus’ name!
So, what must we learn about living the Christian life? We must know that while our faith guides us and helps us to see where the world does not see, our Christian life is not simply living out a creed, but the creed must live in our person. We are united with Christ by faith, and we receive the strength to live the Christian life every day through your relationship with Him. Our Christian life began when we found Christ, and it must continue with Christ. He came so that we may have life to the full (John 10:10) but our life can only be full when it is lived in Him. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, let us hearken to the admonition of Apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him” – Colossians 2:6. Our Christian life began with Christ, it can only continue also in Christ. The moment we deviate, we begin to live a life that is as good as dead, because life without Christ is a dead life.
May 22, 2022 – Pastor Simbo Odunaiya
