Training is key.
Entering into the “Jesus life” sets a person in motion (like a theater production) into something much larger than a single First Act.
Don’t misunderstand. Entering God’s kingdom through spiritual rebirth marks a profound start on the journey. For the gift of sins forgiven we contritely thank him from the deep of our being, offering a resounding, “Yes, Lord Jesus. You are mine. I am yours!”
Yet now the journey commences. The Second Act enters. Our larger story within his own begins to unfold.
Life in Jesus was never prescribed as a single transaction. It is not (in athletic language) a sprint. Our marathon life in him carries forward into and through all our days. Each day affecting change as we offer responses to him in love.
Going forward we no longer live life “alone” on our own. We journey together now, with Jesus and his ever-expanding family.
What does it mean when one speaks of his ‘with-God’ adventure toward and throughout eternity. As the scripture informs us, we’re “no longer our own.” We are “purchased with a price”.*
Twin companions mark us – Believing, Following.
We believe.
Into all the coming days of our earthly pilgrimage, we place our real-time goings and doings at his disposal. Believing means venturing forward, trusting God as best we know how.
We follow.
As with any kind of journey it helps to know in clear terms what we are aiming for – where we are headed. Where are we to find ourselves “at the end of the day”?
When he was a young man my dust-bowl-era father travelled by freight trains from Oklahoma to California. He did not ride just any train that came along. The trains he boarded – all of them – were west or northwest-bound. Why? Because California, his travel target, was that direction (“go west young man”).
A Jesus-follower makes one direction their aim. And here is the important thing, the truly big thing when traveling forward on the Jesus Route. Our aim is him. God brings us to him, Jesus. All centers on him. Christ is both our destination and our God-incarnate travel companion.
©2022 Jerry Lout
A really great lesson witch is inspiring, challenging, and refreshing. Thanks for taking the time to be inspired and to pass the inspiration to whosoever will.
Thank you so much, friend. Ever the encourager. Grateful.
Great focus on the ‘marathon’ life of believing, then following.
MUCH appreciated, Rebecca. (THANKFUL ‘this week for your coaching)