Who am I? This matter of uncertainty shows no discrimination. Whether you be a man, woman, child, elder, homeless person, or CEO; we are all confronted with our futility and inadequacy.

 

One of the many blessings of being a Christian is that we have Christ in us. (John 14:17; Romans 8:9-11) He gives direction and purpose to who we are. Everything we once thought, said, and did should now be under the new authority that abides in our life.  But I propose that this is not enough; there must be more. I believe that Christ in us is only the beginning. All of the anguish and agony that the world tells us we must go through is not ours to participate in. I contend that there is a place in our walk with Christ Jesus when, not only is He in us, we are in Him.

 

Colossians 2:6-7 (KJV)

 

Let me give an illustration:

I love to work on old cars, especially the fixer-upper kind. One day, I find an old car that’s on it’s way to the junkyard. Its owner wants to “junk it” and sell it for scrap parts. However, today, it came across my path and I wanted to “save” it. So, after a little haggling, I purchase the piece of junk and bring the car home. From the time I said that I wanted the car, it’s destination changed. It was no longer headed for the junkyard; it was headed for a home. In spiritual terms, that’s Christ in us. We were on the road to destruction, living in a pit of sin and death. However, at the time of our acceptance of Christ Jesus, our destination changed. Now, we are no longer headed for the junkheap; we have an owner, One that wants to take us home and care for us.

 

After buying the car, I bring it home and it sits in my front yard. My wife cries because she really doesn’t understand, but I see it’s potential – what it can become. There is something in me that cannot let that car just sit there and continue to rot and be worthless. Thus begins the salvaging process.

 

I put my time, talent, and treasury into that car. Pretty soon, it begins to have my “stamp” on it. I’ve used my favorite colors of paint, my specialty products, and my expertise to make this one of the nicest running machines on the road. This is the part where we are in Christ. As a sinner, when we come to Christ, He refuses to leave us rusted, unwanted, and worldly. One of His character flaws is that he hates His children to suffer. He hates for us to not live in the abundance and in the joy and in the thanksgiving that his death brought. Jesus knows our potential; He sees us for what we can be. When He is in us, we are going to make it to heaven. However, when we are in Him, the life until heaven is more than just worth living, it’s enjoyable.

 

How do we get here? Where is the life that is enjoyable? The first step is rather easy. To begin the journey or the walk, we must have something to aim for. I am revealing that destination – a life of Christ in us and us in Christ. Other than having a goal, we must have a way. God’s Word is His way.

 

John 15:7-8 (KJV)

 

God has not deserted us. While it takes work to walk this way, at the end of the journey, we will realize that it was well worth our while. Let God lead, guide, and direct your steps. Let Him be glorified in you and He will make sure that you are glorified in Him. (Romans 8:17)