Is your faith an abstract collection of doctrines or do you have a resurrection faith? That kind of faith that drives any trace of fear out? That kind of faith that laughs in the front of death? That kind of faith that boldly declares like Paul: If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s (Romans 14:8, NRSV,*?

When we are in Christ, we have everything we ever need. Whether we live or die we are his. Resurrection faith knows for sure that life in Christ does not end at the grave. If you believe this, you have faith for the long run, faith for eternity with God.

The essence of the faith for the long run is abiding in Christ. Otherwise our faith might just be abstract piety. And that does not work on the long run. That does not get us into eternity. But when we are in Christ, we are safe and secure in God.

Paul underscored the importance of this intimate relationship with Jesus. Paul used ‘in Christ’ (or some form of it) 164 times in his letters. Being in Christ is what faith on the long run is all about.

It’s not about us keeping religious regulations.
It’s not about us trying to be perfect.
It’s not about us constructing abstract collections of doctrines.

Faith is about us surrendering to Jesus.
Faith is about us asking and receiving grace upon grace.
Faith is about us abiding in Christ forever more.

Then it doesn’t matter what happens to us, we are safe with God. Then we can be joyful even when we face death. That’s resurrection faith for you. That’s faith for the long run. That’s faith from here to eternity!

 

Gracious God,
We so yearn to experience the power of resurrection.
We so yearn to be fully yours.
Thank you for pouring out grace upon grace.
Thank you for sustaining our faith.
Thank you for guiding us home to you.
Empower us for resurrection living.
Show us what abiding in Christ
and having faith for the long run really means.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Is your faith an abstract collection of doctrines or do you have a resurrection faith?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you embrace faith for the long run!

* [As you might have noticed, I enjoy reading the Bible in different translations and love comparing them. I have started linking the Bible verses to Biblegateway.com so you can easily read (and compare) them in the different versions I’ve used while preparing each post.]

Image courtesy of Alan Belcher, design Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Unite the Bloggersphere, Three Word Wednesday and #tellhisstory.