The Key to a Purposeful Life
The possibility is staggering: that I, a creature, might have my life linked—actually, organically, eternally linked—to the Son of God himself. Like a freight car coupled with an engine, where Jesus goes, I go. What happens to him, happens to me. I follow him and share his life, his character, his suffering, his future, his inheritance, even his reign with the Father.
While this reality, known as the doctrine of "union with Christ," has received a lot of attention throughout Christian history, it is often ignored in the modern church. But it is incredibly good news for those of us who wrestle with the uncertainty and disappointment of life on earth. Because we are "in Christ," because his life is ours, our fundamental life story has already been written.
As one who has "put on" Christ in baptism (Gal. 3:27, ESV), my life has a predictable trajectory. I will live, like Jesus, through suffering and sacrifice, rejoicing and rejection, obedience and fellowship, service and sadness, death and resurrection. And my life will end, like his, in glory. This is how Jesus experienced our fallen world. This is how I will experience it too. My life "path" has already been mapped out by Jesus, who calls himself the "way" (John 14:6). This road goes through suffering and death to life and glory. The script is already written.
In fact, the New Testament often speaks about the details of my life in Christ in the past tense. It is a done deal. I (that is, my old self) was crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:3-6). God raised me up with him and seated me with him in heaven (Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:1). Because of these realities, I can be just as sure of what will happen in my future. The reality of Christ in me is my "hope of glory" (Col. 1:27). Because Jesus is my life, I know how my life will end. "When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Col. 3:4, emphasis added).
If I Am United with Christ …
All of this takes the pressure off my experience of life now. It does so in a few ways:
If I am united with Christ, my focus can be on staying connected to Jesus. I don't have to obsess about the particulars of the decisions before me. Do I take this job? Move to this city? Marry this person? Have another child? Yes, I will discern these things best in relationship with Jesus. And yes, God, as a loving Father, certainly cares about them. But these are not ultimately the defining questions of my life. Think about Jesus' image of the vine and the branches. Look at an individual branch. What matters most? Which direction it grows? Whether it twines to the left or the right? Of course not. What matters most to its health and well-being is simply whether it is still connected to the vine, and whether the vine is alive and thriving (which Jesus is). As far as life direction goes, the most important questions sound more like this: Am I feeding myself on Jesus? Am I hearing his words and putting them into practice? Am I loving him with all my heart? Am I living in his body, the church? These questions are usually easier to consider, and should be less angst-ridden.
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Oun Kwon
The word in the title - 'purpose' - makes me a little unsure. I hope he is not saying 'Jesus' is for your "purposeful life". Though it sounds much cleaner and less of psycho-babble than the expression 'purpose-driven', (like slaves driven by slave-master, of a book by Wreck Warren), 'Jesus' is not a means or even the means of the purpose of your life. Yeshua (aka Jesus) Himself is the end, the goal, and the purpose. BTW, what does it mean to be 'united with someone or God'? Or to be in union with him?
JILL NESBITT
Sarah, Thank you for writing this article. As an MBA and the daughter of a small businessman, a successful life is often defined based on commercial success. So many times, I have heard my father summarize a person's life based on their career accomplishments or real estate transactions - and as merely a working person without a fancy title nor a large estate, I always wondered what his quick summary of me would be, if I were not family? Certainly not a success. As I am beginning a job search with the primary focus to find the community where God wants me to serve, I am making my first job change in 16 years and thoughts of wanting to live a 'purposeful life' are taking on new meaning. I appreciated this article as it helped me to realize that I already know how my life will turn out - and therefore, I can not worry about which new job I will take or which new community I will join because I have confidence that I will stay united with Christ no matter what. Thanks again. Jill
Sabrina Messenger
Great article. In the Orthodox Church, the term "theosis" is used meaning Union with God. Which means we relinquish control of our lives and take to heart and live the words of the Lord's prayer that says "thy will be done." Not always easy, particular if you are young and still have a sense of invincibility. The world constantly tells us we can "control" our destiny, and the self-improvement culture constantly re-inforces this false idea. It's not until we realize that without God we can do nothing that we then can be of use to God, to others, to ourselves. It's a matter of letting go and letting God, and not just when things are going your way.
MICHAEL H CONSTANTINE
Thank you, Sarah, for such a well-stated and thoughtful condensation of our life in God.
Pop Seal
A pastor for many years, I discovered that much of my work was nothing more than the continuation of a religious status quo (for the advancement of the cause of course). Later in my career I made the discovery that Christ may live His life through us, or better, "...the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, now gives life to our mortal bodies". It's His life in us that fills our experience whatever it might be. He works through us as we make ourselves available to Him. The regularly expected "church patterns" seldom fit this Christ life in the cooperating Christian. Difficult to explain, one simply needs to experiment his way along. Learn His ways and expect Him to meet you in them. Don't expect all your church friends to be enthusiastic as your 'experiment' will not likely fit the template of the status quo, referred to at first.