When I think of who I am in Jesus Christ and what that really means…this wellspring of joy envelopes my very soul, and I want to sing and dance as David did when he returned with the Arc of the Covenant to Jerusalem. I want to shout, “Christians…why the long faces; why the shades of despair; why are you fearful? 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us, “God didn’t give us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.” Our power and confidence comes from KNOWING that Jesus has already overcome the world. (John 16:33) Therefore, as Christ-followers, we TOO have overcome the world. That truth is reinforced in 1John 4;4: “The Spirit that lives in me (the Holy Spirit) is greater than the spirit in this world (satan).” When those two truths come alive in our hearts, we can begin living the abundant life Jesus promised with confidence, hope and joy!
The truth of “who we are in-Christ” should give us a new self-image based on the truth of God’s Word. And God’s Word tells us: our sins have been forgiven, (Hebrews 8:12, “I will remember their sins no more.”); we are unconditionally loved, (Romans 5:8, “Christ died for us while we were still sinners.”), and we are worthy and acceptable in his sight, (Romans 8:1-2, “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.”) WOW! Take some time and meditate on what that really means. You, my friends, ARE a new creation in Christ!
As we are told in 2 Corinthians 5:17-19: “Those who belong to Jesus Christ have become new persons. The old life is gone. A new life has begun. All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.” When I read this, a new reality takes center stage. Being a Christ-follower is about living…specifically, living a new life! It’s about realizing our past is our past…it’s history, it’s over,it’s gone! If God can remember our sins no more, why do we keep trying to dredge them up?? Being a Christ-follower is about experiencing the revelation of our “new self”. Our sins, our past, our bondages have been forgiven! That’s why Christ came…to set us free so we can become the “masterpiece” referenced in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s masterpiece, created anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
David is the perfect example of experiencing the joy that comes from knowing God. Psalm 148: 1-4, “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens! Praise the Lord from the skies. Praise him, all his angels! Praise him sun and moon and twinkling stars. Let every created thing give praise to the Lord!” Psalm 149:1,3,4-5, “Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful. Praise his name with dancing. For the Lord delights in his people. Let the faithful rejoice in his honor. Let them sing for joy.” Psalm 150: “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his heavenly dwelling. Praise him for his mighty works. Praise him for his unequaled greatness. Let everything that lives sing praises to the Lord!”
Needless to say, David was a friend of God. He delighted at being in his presence, and he experienced the pleasure of loving him. So what are we to learn from David’s experience with God? Simply this…whenever David fell short of God’s glorious standard, he kept coming back. Regardless of the worldly pleasures that lured David (and us) back to our old ways, the truth of Psalm 16:11 prevails: “In Your presence is the fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” The pleasures of the world are temporal, but the pleasures of the Lord last forever. It’s that reality that keeps us coming back when we fall short, and it’s that reality that becomes our source of confidence and strength.
Bob George, in his book “Classic Christianity”, often makes this statement, “the truth will set you free, but error will bind you.” The perfect example of that statement can be found in the first God I met in my early church experience. What I heard week after week was, “God is watching you! He knows when you sin and he will punish you. If you disobey God, you will burn in hell!” I gotta tell ya…everything I was told not to do was what I liked and wanted to do, so I figured God had certainly had it with me. Since I was already condemned, I couldn’t wait to break free from God and do it on my own! Needless to say, I became the prodigal son for the next thirty five years.
However, on April 21, 2000, I became painfully aware that my plan hadn’t worked out quite like I had anticipated. I was at the end of my preverbal rope. With no place else to go, I found myself on my knees crying out, “God please help me! I can’t continue down this path any longer, but I know I’m powerless to change. I can’t do this without you.”
Something miraculous happened that day. I met a new God. Not the God who was shaking his finger at me, telling me what a failure I was and how disappointed he was with me, but a God who met me with open arms saying, “Welcome home. I’ve been hoping for your return ever since you left.” The truth of that experience is expressed beautifully in James 4:10: “When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.” He honored me that day by saying “welcome home” and giving me a second chance at life.
Today I try to intentionally live a life that brings honor and glory to God. I know who I am in Jesus Christ, and I want to say “thank you” to Him for what he has done for me. He has certainly given me a second chance at life, and this time around I am going to live it for His glory. Not only am I aware of his unconditional, unending, and unfailing love for me, but I find myself preoccupied with the superior pleasure of loving Him back. I’ve found that the more I abide in Him, the more abundant the joy that fills my life.
The source and intensity of that joy comes deepening our own personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We have been given the power of the Holy Spirit so that we may become more Christ-like. So what exemplified Jesus’ life when he was here on this earth? Love for one another, forgiveness, compassion, empathy, and service to our fellow man. When these characteristics become the compass that directs our path, we can look forward to our final and ultimate reward. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1Corinthians 2:9); and “Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:23) The pleasures of this world fall pitifully short when compared to the Joy of the Lord!
So my question to you today is…are you experiencing the joy-filled life? Why or why not?
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May God bless ya…
Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)
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