Radical Christianity pt. 6

I know it's been I while since I've continued this series, but praise the Lord, we have come to our last point in my Radical Christianity. This is a topic that is very dear to me as it radically changed my lifestyle and brought me fountains of joy once I recognized it and its various implications. My final point is this: True Christians have a radical mission towards future glory.

As Christians, we have trusted in Christ, not simply for this life, but also for the life to come in the resurrection. We are being taken from glory to glory until we attain to that glorious state before the presence of the Lord. Our goals are radically changed, our purpose is radically shifted. The Apostle Paul exhorts us, "Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God" (Colossians 1:1). It is a sad thing to see Christians lose sight of eternity and turn to worldly things, getting too comfortable in this side of eternity.

The point is that the Christian has a radically different goal in life that culminates in eternal joy. We understand that God has a plan, not just for us personally but a;so for the whole world. He's summing up all things in Christ. This future hope drives Christians to live radically different from the world, Christians to invest in "Kingdom Work." The Christian does not live for the present, he lives for that glorious future.

The Christian's entire life is affected by this hope in future glory. The Christian thinks differently, prioritizes differently, prays differently, finds joy differently, lives differently. The Christian finds contentment in suffering as did Paul: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18). The Christian measures success on a totally different scale, he seeks only to hear from his Master, "Well done my good and faithful slave." The Christian does not find joy in the riches of the present world, but rather in the riches of the heaven. The Christian heeds the call of the Savior, "Go and make disciples of all nations." The Christian tirelessly, wholly surrenders his life for this radical mission because of the treasure of joy he finds in giving up his life.

Jim Elliot, that beloved martyr, said it well, "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." This life is a short stop compared to the eternity of heaven; a small price to pay for its riches. It is no wonder why Christian history is stained with the blood of martyrs. True Christians have confessed along with Paul, "To live is Christ, to die is gain." True Christians know that they have a radical mission towards future glory. Stay strong and God bless!