by Lloyd Strickland, Clearwater Christian Church
We struggle! Oh how we struggle to figure things out! Why? What? How? When? Our minds wrap around the bric a brac of life, and we think that we have sorted out the more important pieces. Then something goes wrong and our answers don’t fit anymore, or we have a desire or craving that changes our perspective. How fickle our minds and morals can be?
This simple saying of Jesus: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25) holds a key to sorting life out. The key word is: “Live”! We like to use the phrase: “He/she lived life to the fullest” which, when translated, usually means the person in question spent a lot of time messing around irresponsibly. That’s not always the case. Yes, a person can have a satisfying life and not live selfishly, and those who do have a focus.
Jesus’ words in John 11:25 are a challenge. He is, or should be, the point on which our lives focus. Getting focused is another thing entirely, especially when a good sized proportion of the population around us think we are crazy to even believe in Jesus, let alone trust our lives to Him.
The phrase “spiritual transformation” applies here. Not in the new age or psychological sense but in the change from selfish living to living with a view toward eternal values. The apostle Paul puts it this way: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4.
True and lasting spiritual transformation begins, and ends, with our hearts set on “Things above”.
And, our hearts, minds and actions focused upon Jesus. Life’s cluttering questions will then be swept aside, and we will truly live joyfully.
