THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTIAN LIFE
When we look around us, we see a lot of variety, but also groups that are united by a certain theme or an essence. Mammals come in different shapes, are found on land, water and in the air, but at their very essence, they all give birth to their young. When you visit an Italian or Indian restaurant, the menu is diverse, but the essence of the food is the Mediterranean Italian diet or the spicy Indian food respectively. Christian pilgrims come in different forms based on their geographical location, culture native to their place and their traditions. But at its essence, Christian life is one and is beautifully summed by Paul,
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10,11)
There are three aspects of this essence of Christian life-
Knowledge: Christianity does not begin with birth into a Christian family, but by rebirth into the knowledge of Christ. Every person who defines himself as a Christian pilgrim, does so by hearing the gospel of salvation from our sins through the cross of Christ, acknowledging it and accepting it as true. And as he embarks on a pilgrimage, he keeps alive the quest of knowing Christ more.
Experience: What begins as intellectual knowledge becomes real through a unique experience. One who truly believes begins to experience the resurrection power of Christ. This is the same power that raised Christ from the dead and broke forever the oppression of death, the ultimate enemy of man. While this resurrection power becomes evident to its fullest after death, we see glimpses of it while we live. The pilgrim’s ability to separate himself from the enslavement of the worldly pattern and to live life on the edge of the miraculous each day is a demonstration of life being at work within him. Experience also includes sharing in the sufferings of Christ. Jesus’ example was one of abandoning the worldly pleasures and embracing suffering in obedience to God. Sharing in that experience means to deny ourselves a reign of worldly pleasures and live life in obedience to God.
Transformation: What follows is a transformation into the likeness of Christ. When we become like he was in his life and unite with him in his denial and death, we take on the nature of Christ and resurrection becomes inevitable. Transformation truly defines a disciple, and miraculously so because the trend of the world is to continually deteriorate whereas a disciple progresses in the opposite direction of renewal in the image of God.
If you call yourself a follower of Christ, does this threefold essence of knowledge, experience and transformation define you? As always, feel free to comment.
