“…so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death.” Philippians 1:20
Dear Ones:
The ways of God are certainly not our ways, but they are sure, and eternal. In choosing to follow Christ, we are called upon to embrace the ways and perspectives of God which are in opposition to this world. For example, what is the believer’s perspective concerning his calling, and the realization of it, even in the face of death? Because of Christ who has become the believer’s life, there is the dimension of the eternal which dominates life on this earth, giving purpose and direction. It is a perspective that, as the Bible declares, has great reward. This reward is not primarily the place where we shall spend eternity, even with all of its beauty and purity, brightness and peace. It is the One who designed it, who prepared it for those who would believe in Him, follow Him. It is a place of perfect peace and joy by virtue of the One who IS that peace and joy. All of eternal life streams from the blessed fountain of His Person, from Christ Himself. Christ is not only the center of that reward, but the very essence of it. So then, what is to be the perspective of the believer on this earth until that day he is called higher, to meet the Lord?
When Ester became queen of Persia, she was placed sovereignly there by the God who had made her. She had been raised by the godly Mordecai, her uncle, so that her perspective was certainly one of faith in God. As circumstances would dictate, especially since she was raised up and prepared in the will of God, “…for such a time as this,” she was brought face to face with the reality of Jesus’s words, “…in earth as it is in heaven.” She is faced with both realities, that of being queen, and as such, seeking to save her life, or being the servant of God for that point in time, ready and willing to lose her life for His sake, and that of the people. Why and how does she come to the place in mind and heart where she declares, “…if I perish, I perish?” The foundation of her thinking and perspective that would win the day, would be that knowledge of the truth concerning God, her people, and the testimony of faith always exhibited by her godly uncle. Her heart and mind were formed, and established, in that blessed eternal reality and perspective. When she was faced with her mission at the expense of her life, she chose to be willing to lose her life, for the sake of finding it. Does this principle apply to believers today?
In speaking of his upcoming death, and the “glory of the Son of man,” (Jn. 12:23), the Lord Jesus would say to His disciples: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, ‘Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.'” (v. 24) The Lord was speaking of his own life, and the losing of it. But He also speaks the truth of the believer’s experience. “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” (v.25) Why does He speak thus? Is the Christian not to enjoy all that is good that God gives? Yes, but that is not the issue. The principle that is apparent here is that there is worth in living on this earth, doing the will of God, trusting Him for the full outworking of His will. But there is a greater, and eternal reality that rises higher than the Christian’s life on this earth, and it has to to with being with Christ forever. To be truly fruitful, useful, is choosing to embrace, and to live by that which will have eternal ramifications to the glory of God. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21)
Dear Father, Give us a true and balanced perspective of life in Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad