Lost In Christ

November 12, 2009

Life can be very confusing and it is so easy to distort the truth with half-truths, white lies, and deception. As Christians, our spiritual lives are just as confusing and it is easy for us to become discouraged and depressed from our circumstances, because of our sin, and because of a million other reasons. The road we are walking is not easy---the journey heavenward is steep and not many travel upon this path. If you are struggling, weary of battling sin, discouraged because you do not see yourself making any progress in your faith, tired of pressing on, and just worn out then come take a walk with me---you are not alone---but I will warn you now, we might get lost…

Just imagine a steep rocky path, leading up to a mount prepared for the condemned who are carrying their own crosses. Upon this path stumbles one who is marred beyond recognition; blood dripping down his face and body from awful beatings. He makes it to the place of execution with the help of a bystander who was ordered to assist him with his cross. He is than nailed to the cross and left to hang upon it and die. The death of the accursed endured by the perfect Lamb of God.

We are not done yet, though, because as bad as the physical suffering this man has already endured is---His suffering gets much worse. His Father whom He loves turns away and forsakes Him because the man took upon Himself our sin. His Father can no longer look upon Him because He became sin for us. Instead, the Father pours out all His wrath and anger upon the man, punishing Him for our sin. This man---Jesus---drank the bitter cup that should have been ours.

And now here is where we become lost…we are lost in Christ. Because now when God sees us He does not see us---He sees Christ. He sees the righteousness that Jesus gave us in exchange for our sin. We are completely hidden and lost in Christ. We will never lose our salvation because our salvation depends upon Christ not ourselves. God sees Christ when He looks at us.

So when you are discouraged about your faith take heart…you are lost in Christ. When you sin, repent and remember that God will forgive you and loves you because you are lost in Christ. When He looks at you, He sees Christ because we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness. Nothing depends upon us and our effort everything depends and rests in the work that Jesus accomplished at Calvary. We are lost in Christ, hidden in Him. What joy and gladness this will bring to heavy hearts because the salvation we have is not based on works but on grace---the grace of God.