"In Him was life, and the life was the
light of men." (John
1:4)
Rolf Zettersten
wrote an article for Focus on The Family
Magazine, June 1993. He had attended
the NCAA Final Four in March of 1993
at the Super dome in New Orleans,
LA. 80,000 excited fans
jammed
the Super dome to watch the semi-finals on Saturday night. Rolf was seated in
front of a
large section of Michigan
alumni. Every time the Wolverines scored, they applauded, hooted and
screamed
like their lives depended on it. Many of the fans brought with them signs that
conveyed
the cleverest slogans they could invent. After the Michigan team made a comeback, one man got
up from his seat and began parading up and down the aisles. He was holding a
large cardboard
sign above his head that said: "THIS IS WHAT WE LIVE
FOR" Rolf suddenly had a healthy dose
of proper perspective. While sitting
in the midst of this incredible sporting event, He turned to his
friend and
said, "Man, I'm sure glad this isn't what I live for."
Friend, what are
you living for? Several years ago a t-shirt came out in sporting good stores
that
read: "Basketball is life ... The rest is just details" I never
purchased that shirt. There is more to life
than sports!
CHRIST'S DEATH IS THE BELIEVER'S LIFE.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the
gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord"
(Romans 6:23). Because sin brings spiritual death and separates us from the life with God,
the removal of sin restores life with God. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things
have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
God created us for companionship with Himself. "As the deerpants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God for the living God. When shall I
come and appear before God?" (Psalm 42:1, 2). He gave His Son to pay the penalty for
our sin. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus died painfully and shamefully
on the cross and was even separated from God because He was bearing the sins of
the world. "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out withloud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli,
lama sabachthani?" that is "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
(Matthew 27:46). His death is the believer's life.
(Romans 6:23). Because sin brings spiritual death and separates us from the life with God,
the removal of sin restores life with God. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things
have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
God created us for companionship with Himself. "As the deerpants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God for the living God. When shall I
come and appear before God?" (Psalm 42:1, 2). He gave His Son to pay the penalty for
our sin. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus died painfully and shamefully
on the cross and was even separated from God because He was bearing the sins of
the world. "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out withloud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli,
lama sabachthani?" that is "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
(Matthew 27:46). His death is the believer's life.
MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE.
Our greatest
obstacle to genuine life is our preoccupation with material life. Jesus asked, "Is not
life more than food and the body more than clothing? (Matthew 6:25). He said, "Man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).
Life is more than food and clothes! "Take heed and beware of covetousness, (i.e.an insatiable
desire for worldly gain, H.C.) for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he
possesses" (Luke 12:15). Without Jesus,who is the bread of life (John 6:35), worldly living is
shallow, bleak, and hopeless. Christians consider Christ as our life. "For you died and your life
hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:4). The life we livein Christ living in us. "I have been
crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live
in the flesh I life by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
life more than food and the body more than clothing? (Matthew 6:25). He said, "Man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).
Life is more than food and clothes! "Take heed and beware of covetousness, (i.e.an insatiable
desire for worldly gain, H.C.) for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he
possesses" (Luke 12:15). Without Jesus,who is the bread of life (John 6:35), worldly living is
shallow, bleak, and hopeless. Christians consider Christ as our life. "For you died and your life
hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:4). The life we livein Christ living in us. "I have been
crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live
in the flesh I life by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
HAPPINESS HERE AND
HEREAFTER.
The Christian life
is the happiest life both now and forever. Jesus said, "I have come that they
may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). "For bodily exercise
profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is
and of that which is to come" (1 Timothy 4:8). Christians receive a hundredfold now in this
time ... and in the age to come, eternal life. (Mark 10:30) It is a tragic mistake to think you
must give up real pleasures in the present life in order to receive the life to come.
Consider Moses (Hebrews 11:24-27). The faithful Christian receives fullness of fellowship
with God both here and hereafter. Can you say with the apostle Paul, "For to me to live is
may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). "For bodily exercise
profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is
and of that which is to come" (1 Timothy 4:8). Christians receive a hundredfold now in this
time ... and in the age to come, eternal life. (Mark 10:30) It is a tragic mistake to think you
must give up real pleasures in the present life in order to receive the life to come.
Consider Moses (Hebrews 11:24-27). The faithful Christian receives fullness of fellowship
with God both here and hereafter. Can you say with the apostle Paul, "For to me to live is
Christ, and to die is gain?" (Philippians 1:21).
Jesus, Oh, Jesus,
Do you know Him
today?
You can't turn Him
away,
Oh, Jesus! Oh,
Jesus!
Without Him, how
lost I would be!
(Mylon R. LeFevre)
- Hayden
Childs
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