Child like obedience and total surrender are what Jesus requires of the Christian, examined in our last two posts. Total dependence, total surrender of all we hold dear in this life.
Is that it ?
No, not at all. In concluding chapter 19 of Matthew’s Gospel we see that Jesus makes clear that there is considerable reward for the believer who takes him seriously, not just in the life beyond, but also in our remaining years in this world.
In fact Jesus promises far more in this world as a result of giving all to God, than if we try to live life our way.
The secret is to view this life from God’s perspective, from a spiritual perspective, not a material and human stand point.
In this world we only see the physical, material world about us; we are overwhelmingly conscious and preoccupied with what our senses perceive. It’s all about how we feel. What makes us feel good. What makes us feel bad.
But this is not the criterion for perception or for decision about what we should do in God’s dimension, the spiritual. In that dimension we are concerned with fundamental reality, we are concerned with eternity, we are concerned with the state of our soul before God. In that realm, attitude is all. In that realm we must learn to behave as God requires; we must learn to live by choosing to obey God – that is how we reap the benefits of the spiritual life.
We reap those spiritual benefits – and thereby the physical benefits in the present world – by deciding to follow God’s guidelines for our lives instead of being subject to our every personal whim and inclination.
You may have noticed in your life that following what you want can land you in serious trouble. All too often it leads people into impossible situations from which they cannot escape. In those circumstances, they become prey to drugs and criminality, and the evil in such environments is like being tortured inside a prison cell without any hope of escape.
Living by God’s rules is entirely different. It is to live a life of peace and contentment, of inner tranquility. It is to live a life in which you experience God’s help and deliverance from harm; a life in which God’s very presence itself is far greater reward than any material possession of this physical and fallen world.
The person for whom Jesus Christ is God knows a completely different quality of life. It does not mean that they have no problems. But it does mean that they have God’s presence and comfort. It does mean that they have all that they actually need of this world’s possessions to live as God calls them to live. It does mean that they have contentment now and hope for the future – a future eternity with God.
This world offers fake hope and fake comfort in possessions, consumption and drugs.
God’s kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit !
Christian Preacher
Christianity 