Is following Christ *really* the abundant life he promises?
“Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses- as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.”
Hebrews 3:1-6
“I wonder if I would be married by now if I just did things my own way and didn’t wait on God,” I thought to myself for the thousandth time. I was in my early twenties and because I live in the south, everyone around me was dating, getting engaged, or planning a wedding. I, though, hadn’t dated anyone since I was 17, and because of other struggles in my life, I was already feeling apathetic. If only I could just do whatever I wanted, I could live a life that feels fuller of the things I want.
If I’m being honest, that’s probably a true statement. If I did whatever I wanted, I could have anything. I could have a job that pays significantly more than the job I have now, I wouldn’t have any college debt, I would be married with kids, I’d drive a nicer car, etc. If I could really do whatever I wanted - if I could acquire more stuff - I would be happy. Right?
I remember when I first began to feel a stirring in my heart towards full-time ministry work. Several people in my life had affirmed certain things about my personality that they assumed would naturally progress into a life of ministry. Then, when that stirring turned towards a specific mission organization, I began to feel weary because my employment would be contingent on my ability to raise financial support (raise my own salary) from individuals and churches. Then, I thought about how a life of ministry can oftentimes mean sacrificing things that other people don’t have to - living near family (or even in the same country), exuberant salaries, relationships with people who don’t share the same calling to ministry, and even the feeling that other people understand your job or lifestyle.
A few months ago, my two roommates and I were in the car driving home from a day of ministry on campus (we all live and work in college ministry together), when one of them said, “But is following Christ really the abundant life?”
The three of us talked for awhile about certain things in our lives that might make us quick to answer “no.” Between us, we have a combined total of 11 years of ministry, and the question still lingered in the air between us.
It can be a hard thing to believe - that no matter what we face in this life, Jesus promises a life full of abundance for those who trust in him. The above passage of scripture from Hebrews is fascinating to me, though it speaks of a truth I have known for a long time - we are Christ’s house. When we accept Christ, we are stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit and immediately made into Christ’s house on earth. The wonder that Jesus lives in us is expressed in Colossians 1:27, “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
It is quite the mystery that the God of the universe would choose to dwell in us, and that he would do so knowing that we are broken, helpless people that choose ourselves over God more times than not. Many of my friends who have forsaken their faith in Christ are experiencing many of the joys that I want but haven’t yet experienced, and many days I find myself asking the Lord why he keeps good things from me.
But, feeling this way is a severe misunderstanding of God’s character and even the basic theology I have about God. James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
If I treat God as someone who can fulfill a laundry list of desires that I have, he becomes nothing more to me than a means to an end. I feel as though so many passages of scripture have flooded my mind in preparation for writing this because I have sought the Lord with this question so many times. Jesus speaks in Matthew 7, saying, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
What do all of these passages of scripture have in common? In essence, these verses remind me of two truths: 1) that God lives within me, and this is a mystery too wonderful to even comprehend, and 2) I am called by God to live a life that glorifies him, by entering through the narrow gate (choosing him over everything else), by trusting him even when I don’t understand. I am able to do the second because the truth of the first enables me to.
We must first start at who Jesus is - who he reveals himself to be throughout scripture, who he has shown himself to be in our lives personally, and then - and only then can - we live our lives in a way that glorifies him, only then can we trust his promises in our lives. Our minds lie to us on a daily basis (hello, negative self talk that loops in our heads), and when we think we are wise in our own eyes, we take our gaze off of Jesus and look to ourselves for total truth. Christ teaches us to trust him through experiences, even those experiences that cause us to question if the life he promises really is abundant. However, I can guarantee you that when you confront him with such a question, he will meet you with exactly what you need to believe him for that.
Though my days haven’t spanned many years, I’ve experienced hardships that I would never have expected. I’ve walked with Jesus for eight years, and he’s taken me places that I would never have desired to go - through loss, mental health diagnoses and struggles, financial hardship, and betrayal from friends. Yet, he has taught me a new song that I can sing when I begin to question his goodness. Through his word do I find myself being drawn back to him because of who he is, and the nature of his character quickly reminds me that what he says is true - that the life he promises is abundant.
I’d like to conclude these thoughts with my favorite chapter in all of scripture, one that has comforted and convicted me through many years - Psalm 40:
My Help and My Deliverer
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.
Blessed is the man who makes
the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!
You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.
In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”
I have told the glad news of deliverance
in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O Lord.
I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.
As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
ever preserve me!
For evils have encompassed me
beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
my heart fails me.
Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
O Lord, make haste to help me!
Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
Let those be appalled because of their shame
who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”
But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!