Receiving Life
“I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10
I have just been reading an update from a friend whose nephew has recently received a bone marrow transplant in the form of stem cells dripped into his body. The success of this procedure depends upon his body receiving these life-giving cells which will replace the leukemia- diseased cells. If his body rejects them, then I suppose his life will gradually slip away, robbed by the disease. Therefore it is absolutely vital to his continued survival that he receive this gift of life.
As I thought about this young man, I realised how exactly like that it is for us. Without the life of Christ being received, our lives are destined for death. Of course our bodies will all die one day. This is just our earth suit to contain our spirit, which is eternal. But our spirit man needs to receive the gift of new life through Jesus Christ in order to live in eternity with Him.
For many people this is a difficult concept. It is something which needs to be received by a faith which is based in the truth of God’s word. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6. People live as if this life is all that there is. Their motto is “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” But, as the TV ads say, “but wait, there is more!” I believe that our time on earth is purely a preparation ground for eternity. Finding eternal life does not depend on the good works or good lives that we live here, it depends entirely upon receiving the pure life of Christ in exchange for our sinful life. A life inherited from Adam, a life tainted with sin that is not acceptable to God.
It is quite a helpful analogy to think of this young man’s disease-ridden body which is going to let him down unless he finds new life. It is just the same for us. We cannot stand before God in our own goodness and say “Here I am.” A holy God, cannot look upon sinful man. That is why God went to such lengths to make the way for us to have new ‘stem cells’ – the implanted life of Christ to replace our own. Now we live our life through His gift of new life to us.
“Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure……. He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son and our sins are forgiven. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.”
Ephesians 1:4-8
Will you choose to receive the gift of His life in place of your own. If you have not already done so, I invite you to pray this prayer.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of life through Jesus Christ. Please take my old sinful life and replace it with the life of Christ. I ask your forgiveness for all that is past and I thank you for new life through Jesus’ death on the cross. I choose to walk in this new life and ask your help to do this. In Jesus’ name.
Amen
If any person lives in Christ, he is a brand new creation. Old things have passed away and all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
“I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10
I have just been reading an update from a friend whose nephew has recently received a bone marrow transplant in the form of stem cells dripped into his body. The success of this procedure depends upon his body receiving these life-giving cells which will replace the leukemia- diseased cells. If his body rejects them, then I suppose his life will gradually slip away, robbed by the disease. Therefore it is absolutely vital to his continued survival that he receive this gift of life.
As I thought about this young man, I realised how exactly like that it is for us. Without the life of Christ being received, our lives are destined for death. Of course our bodies will all die one day. This is just our earth suit to contain our spirit, which is eternal. But our spirit man needs to receive the gift of new life through Jesus Christ in order to live in eternity with Him.
For many people this is a difficult concept. It is something which needs to be received by a faith which is based in the truth of God’s word. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6. People live as if this life is all that there is. Their motto is “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” But, as the TV ads say, “but wait, there is more!” I believe that our time on earth is purely a preparation ground for eternity. Finding eternal life does not depend on the good works or good lives that we live here, it depends entirely upon receiving the pure life of Christ in exchange for our sinful life. A life inherited from Adam, a life tainted with sin that is not acceptable to God.
It is quite a helpful analogy to think of this young man’s disease-ridden body which is going to let him down unless he finds new life. It is just the same for us. We cannot stand before God in our own goodness and say “Here I am.” A holy God, cannot look upon sinful man. That is why God went to such lengths to make the way for us to have new ‘stem cells’ – the implanted life of Christ to replace our own. Now we live our life through His gift of new life to us.
“Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure……. He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son and our sins are forgiven. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.”
Ephesians 1:4-8
Will you choose to receive the gift of His life in place of your own. If you have not already done so, I invite you to pray this prayer.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of life through Jesus Christ. Please take my old sinful life and replace it with the life of Christ. I ask your forgiveness for all that is past and I thank you for new life through Jesus’ death on the cross. I choose to walk in this new life and ask your help to do this. In Jesus’ name.
Amen
If any person lives in Christ, he is a brand new creation. Old things have passed away and all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
posted by Daydrops For You at
1:58 AM
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