Life #4 – To Live is Christ



white orchid 005

To live—so we never die—is a process. Our process is revealed in Romans 6:5, where we are closely united together with Jesus in his death and resurrection. On one hand, we take to the cross all lifestyles that cater to our former corrupt self. On the other, our minds and affections rise to things above, fixed where Christ is (Colossians 3:1, 2).

We:

1. grow up into the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13);
2. put on the new self, created to be like God in holiness and righteousness (Ephesians 4:24 NIV)
3. transform ourselves and renew our mind to prove God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will (Romans 12:2);
4. have the intellect of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16);
5. bring forth properties of Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23);
6. live; yet not us, but Christ (Galatians 2:20 KJV);
7. behold him as his Spirit transforms us into the Lord’s image (2 Corinthians 3:18).

From inception to completion, our confession should be “to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21).
Jesus rendered death useless and made us joint heirs with him (2 Timothy 1:9, 10; Romans 8:17). Having equipped ourselves with renewed minds, we may lay claim to our life-inheritance today.

God planned that we conform to his Son’s image (Romans 8:29). This New Year, if we work out our salvation according to God’s plan, then we have not fallen short of God’s grace, which is Christ in us the hope of glory (Galatians 2:21; Hebrews 12:15; Colossians 1:27) .
===============================================================
Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted.

Life #3 – Rage against the Dying of the Light

Kaaawa 2011

A famous TV actor once said in an interview that although he had cancer, he wanted to live. There was so much he wanted to do. He wouldn’t go without a fight. This actor had an aversion to death. Then I remembered a poem by Dylan Thomas. Thomas urged his dying father to fight; that no matter how they lived their lives, or what they felt at the end, they should all die fighting. I concluded that this actor and Thomas were determined not to “go gentle into that good night”.

My last hospital visit with a dear old Christian man was bittersweet. I watched this octogenarian “rage against the dying of the light”, as he demanded an answer from me. “Why? Why?” I had no answer. No words. Only silence. Charlie S. had a strong inclination to live. When he finally accepted that no answer was forthcoming, he fell to one knee and cried uncontrollably. I cried with him. Dear Charlie did not have the knowledge of 2 Timothy 1:10 or John 11:26, but he did have truth in his inward parts. Truth helped Charlie perceive that life was for his body. Though it was not to be manifested for Charlie that day, it will be at the Resurrection.

Jesus promised that if we lived and believed in him, we would never die (John 11:26). So, Lord, what does it take to live?

 ===============================================================
Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; poem by Dylan Thomas from Wikipedia.

#2 - The Living Gospel is for Today

Pines on Oahu 2011

In the Garden of Eden, death was nonexistent until God brought it forth in the form of a curse upon the Adamic race (Genesis 2:17). Since that time, however, God’s purpose and grace would reveal his intent to restore our original state of life and immortality.

• “…according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…” (2 Timothy 1:9, 10).

Again, we Christians are immovable advocates for death based on one Scripture in Hebrews 9:27—even while confronted with other scriptural truths that Jesus “has abolished death”.

Do we Christians even know what “abolish” means? The Thesaurus uses similar words like "to put an end to, eliminate, close down, bring to an end, stop, do away with, eradicate, and get rid of".

If death was meant to continue unbroken for Christians, then who did Jesus have in mind when he “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel”?

To all Christians who believe in him and live (John 11:26), the living gospel is for today and centers on Jesus, who:

1. abolished death, and 
2. brought life and immortality to light.

We welcome your comments.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted.

Life #1 - Is it Possible to Live Forever?

Fact:  A majority of Christians believe we are appointed to die once (Hebrews 9:27 KJV).

Truth:  Few Christians believe Jesus, who dismissed Fact with Truth, when he said, “And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:26).

Both of these, Fact and Truth, may operate as faith within a Christian—but not at the same time! This is why Jesus gave us two ways to work out our salvation:

1. the broad, wide way that leads to “destruction”, apōlĕia (ap-o’-li-a), ruin or loss (physical, spiritual, or eternal) (Matthew 7:13), and,
2. the difficult, narrow way that leads to “life”, zōē (dzo-ay’), life as God has it, vivacity, energy (Matthew 7:14).

As Christians, we tend to put more faith in undisputed Fact than we do in the Truths Jesus spoke. We are, however, not left to guess which choice the Father and Son prefer we make:

• God said through Moses, “I have set before you life and death…therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
• The Son said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

The possibility is still there. Jesus makes it possible. Have we chosen life or have we let death choose us? We welcome your comments.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted. Greek definitions from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible and Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words 1981.

Life #00: If You Could Live Forever, Would You?

New Year's 2008, Kaneohe Bay

Aloha! and welcome to my first posting.

At one of our “talk story” sessions, my brother asked: "When Jesus said ‘if we believe in him and live, we will never die’—did he mean it?”

I was shocked. I hadn’t given it any thought.

In its full context Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25, 26 NIV)

To “never die” is a mixed blessing. Mom was in her eighties. She was tired and ready to go. After all, just how many dirty dishes can a person look forward to washing? And when does cooking one more meal become one too many? I think that’s why Jesus gave us the first option. Because after our bodies die, called a “rest”, our spirits continue to live. God is, after all, the God of the living.

But the second option—to live and never die? We’d have to remain young, healthy, and indestructible, wouldn’t we!

If someone revealed a way to remain thirty until we’re 900 years old—would we do it? Knowing the present condition of the world today—would we want to? And could a person get bored after living 400 years? I wish I could “talk story” with Methuselah (Genesis 5:27).

Instead, we’re going on a quest to check out Jesus’ second life promise. Join us if you like. And bring your faith. It’ll help when the going gets rough.