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The other day as I drove through town a large recreational vehicle (RV) passed by me, and on it’s bumper was a sign that read: “We’re spending our children’s inheritance”. I had to laugh at that statement. “We’re spending our children’s inheritance”. They probably WERE spending their inheritance. Those big rigs cost a great deal of money to buy, and even more to keep them rolling. The rising price of gasoline certainly don’t help matters either! So these parents might have been spending their children’s inheritance. But you know, an inheritance is best enjoyed by the living anyway. So it is with Christ.
So few who profess Christ as Savior realize that the Christian life is designed to be lived right now. The most popular notion among American Christians is that we come to Christ to be saved, then we can choose whether to live for Him or not after salvation. But Beloved, Jesus never, ever gave the impression that this type of behavior is normal or expected. The Jesus Who saved us holds US accountable for how we treat that holy relationship He purchased with His own dear Blood. There is no life apart from the life of Christ. In the book “The Christian Secret To A Happy Life” Hanna Whitall Smith wrote: “The secret of Christ’s life was the pouring out of Himself for others, and if we are like Him, this will be the secret of our lives also. He saved others, but Himself He could not save. He “pleased not Himself” and therefore we are “not to please ourselves”, but rather our neighbor, when it is for his good. …. “What Christians need is a little more of Christ’s Christianity and a little less of man’s.” Christians should be living their lives being poured out for others, not constantly chasing the things of this world. Our inheritance from the Son was not just eternal life, but it IS life worth living. Happy life, abundant life, victorious life. This type of life cannot come while we wallow in selfishness. You are saved by faith in Christ to serve Christ and to live in Christ now, not later. God emphasizes this when He states in Hebrews 12:9 “shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live”. This sentence has many layers of meaning. We could read it this way, “You should be obedient unto our Father, living your life for Him.”, or it could also be read, “You should be obedient unto our Father if you expect to continue living in this life.”, or it could even be read, “You will never live a full, blessed life here and now until you subject your life to our Father.” The Christian way of life is a way of life that is meant to be lived right now. Are you living for Jesus? Are you being poured out for others? Will He be pleased when He reviews your life when you meet Him in that great bye and bye? How you respond may well determine whether you spend eternity with Him or not. Think about it. John 10:10 (KJV) “… I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” |
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