Desire To Live

Col 3:1-4 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.


There is a mysterious nature to salvation. When a man becomes a believer, which is, that he truly believes in faith that Jesus Christ died for his sins and redeemed him from the curse of the law and saved him from the wrath of God, there is a change that is experienced in his heart. But, his flesh nature wars with his mind trying to reason with the new believer that since he cannot physically see Christ or the redemptive work that Christ has done for him, he should indeed start doubting, which leads many to unbelief.

Now what is the remedy for a young believer? How can he be convinced that he is in Christ and that Christ is working in him?

First, he must set his mind on holy things, rather than wordly things. This is a good time to focus on how they look like the world, and then try not to look like that.For with your regeneration, your old self has been put to death. A new convert must believe that this has been done on the cross. Furthermore, he must believe that he has a new life due to the resurrection of Christ.

Second, the young Christian must believe that his faith is secure in Christ. Christ hides the believer's life. That is, He holds your eternal destiny, not the believer himself. He hides it from you since you are not good enough, pure enough, strong enough, or righteous enough on your own to protect this new life. Christ has to do what the child cannot do on his own.

Finally, the believer must believe that Christ is his life. This is a profound statement. This sentence should bring one to his knees when he realizes the vast blessing of Christ, to save such a wretched sinner such as him. What Paul is saying is that your life is dead, you have no life of your own to even bring to God. Your new life is not your own, but Christ's. He purchased that new life on the cross. Your righteousness is solely based on Christ and him alone. What a blessed hope that Christ holds your new life and that he will give you the new life when you appear with him in glory.

Andrew Murray writes, "Christ Himself is your life and your power of life. Yet, because this mighty life is not visible or cannot be felt, but works in the midst of human weakness, the young Christian often becomes of doubtful mind. He then fails to believe that he shall grow with Divine power and certainty. He does not understand that the believing life is a life of faith whereby he reckons on the life that is in Christ for him, although he neither sees, feels, nor experiences anything. "

Christ is your new life. Christ does all the redemptive work. He is the gardener, you are the plant. He protects you with his faithfulness. He plants you, he feeds you, he waters you, and he even grows you. All you have to do is believe.