What Do We Live For in the Christian Life?

For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (Romans 6:5–6)

Today’s big question: what do we live for in the Christian life?

Sometimes it’s a good exercise to just stop and observe the world for a while. This is particularly true in the modernized world where our daily needs of food, clothing, and shelter are so abundantly met, yet we still see humanity in the pursuit of self. We seek for better homes, better clothes, the best restaurants, better gadgets, better lifestyles, better vacations, and more.

None of these things are sinful in themselves, yet so often in our pursuit of such things, idolatry occurs. The things of this world easily become our first priority and take the place of our worship of God. We become slaves to our human self-seeking desires. We become slaves to sin.

There is a fundamental difference between the authentic Christian life and the worldly life. Romans 6 reveals that we are to become like Christ and He is to be our top priority. We must die to serving self as we are saved out of this world (Galatians 1:4). Our passions and pursuits are not ultimately for our own happiness, prosperity, self-empowered destiny, or a striving for our best life now. Our passion is for Jesus and the eternity with Him, to bathe in His glory, praising and adoring Him forever.

The Bible never states that we are made alive to the pursuit of things in this world. In fact, we are dead to the temporary sinful pursuits that pull us from the glory of Christ. True life is only found in repentance of sin and faith in Christ. He died for our sin, and through faith in Him we are also dead to that sin and risen to a new life in Christ. We are no longer in bondage to the pleasures of this world but are willing slaves of Christ who provides us with eternal hope and joy through the riches of His grace.

The Christian life is about understanding what we are dead to and to whom we are made alive. True life for the Christian is not about the here and now but in the God who was and is and is to come. Our best life as a Christian is not in this cursed world of sin but in an abundant eternity with Christ. We are dead to sin and alive in Christ alone.

Today’s big idea: true life is only in Jesus.

What to pray: ask God to reveal what in this world you are placing in front of Him.