Of all people, most to be pitied?
If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
[1 Corinthians 15:19]
I read this verse the other day and I thought: "Why?" Why, if this Christian life is a blessed life, and if it is filled only with ease, comfort, health, safety, security, prosperity, and general giddiness—then why are we "to be pitied" more than "all people" that hunger, thirst, are blind or deaf, have diseases, are homeless, cold, in prison, etc.? Because this life is not that way. His meaning is this: if we go through all this and there’s actually nothing after it to make it all worthwhile—if there’s actually no "joy set before us" to strengthen us to "endure the cross" and "despise the shame," then we are not only destitute in this life, but deceived about the next one. And false hope is worse than no hope. This verse only makes sense if "this life" is not easy, comfortable, and giddy.
This presents a rather difficult view of Christianity: to think that it might be a "hard path"? That I actually might be despised and rejected of men just like my Master? What about 'walking in the favor of the King?' Hebrews 12:1-11 and 1 Peter 1:3-9 present a rather different understanding of the true and lasting favor of the Lord. The birth of a disciple of Christ is marked by a radical departure in every aspect of our being from what the world thinks and lives; for His way of thinking and living is considered foolish. To be joined to the Rejected One is to be inducted into what Dietrich Bonhoeffer calls "the brotherhood of the Crucified." (The Cost of Discipleship, p. 114. [actually he calls it the "fellowship of the crucified."])
This view wipes away trivialities and forces our attention to the center of life: the glory of Christ—where we must gaze at him and ask ourselves "Is he worth it? Is he worth the 'loss of all things'?" It is true that we do not trust in or seek hardship; we trust in and seek only Christ. But Scripture affirms that hardship is the unavoidable outcome of following Christ in this world and the only road to the fellowship of the cross. Hope for the next life gives us a will to leave all, strength to endure persecution, and joy as we run the race down the Calvary road. (Anyone who’s been verbally smacked by a friend or loved one or publicly derided or even beaten for the sake of Christ knows what I’m talking about here.)
But why do I write this to you? To have a "nice devotional thought"? No. Because I want to see our generation walk the “old path” of reverent and (therefore) radical discipleship. I want us to live a life of following Jesus so closely that we simply must look to the hope of the next life just in order to keep going in this one. So let us leave our nets, take up our dusty swords and use them on our own hearts, and follow our Rejected (yet Reigning) King of Creation. His glory awaits only those who follow in his footsteps—and his footsteps lead only to the cross.
Suggested Reading:
Matthew 8:19-22
Hebrews 12:1-11
1 Peter 1:3-9
[1 Corinthians 15:19]
I read this verse the other day and I thought: "Why?" Why, if this Christian life is a blessed life, and if it is filled only with ease, comfort, health, safety, security, prosperity, and general giddiness—then why are we "to be pitied" more than "all people" that hunger, thirst, are blind or deaf, have diseases, are homeless, cold, in prison, etc.? Because this life is not that way. His meaning is this: if we go through all this and there’s actually nothing after it to make it all worthwhile—if there’s actually no "joy set before us" to strengthen us to "endure the cross" and "despise the shame," then we are not only destitute in this life, but deceived about the next one. And false hope is worse than no hope. This verse only makes sense if "this life" is not easy, comfortable, and giddy.
This presents a rather difficult view of Christianity: to think that it might be a "hard path"? That I actually might be despised and rejected of men just like my Master? What about 'walking in the favor of the King?' Hebrews 12:1-11 and 1 Peter 1:3-9 present a rather different understanding of the true and lasting favor of the Lord. The birth of a disciple of Christ is marked by a radical departure in every aspect of our being from what the world thinks and lives; for His way of thinking and living is considered foolish. To be joined to the Rejected One is to be inducted into what Dietrich Bonhoeffer calls "the brotherhood of the Crucified." (The Cost of Discipleship, p. 114. [actually he calls it the "fellowship of the crucified."])
This view wipes away trivialities and forces our attention to the center of life: the glory of Christ—where we must gaze at him and ask ourselves "Is he worth it? Is he worth the 'loss of all things'?" It is true that we do not trust in or seek hardship; we trust in and seek only Christ. But Scripture affirms that hardship is the unavoidable outcome of following Christ in this world and the only road to the fellowship of the cross. Hope for the next life gives us a will to leave all, strength to endure persecution, and joy as we run the race down the Calvary road. (Anyone who’s been verbally smacked by a friend or loved one or publicly derided or even beaten for the sake of Christ knows what I’m talking about here.)
But why do I write this to you? To have a "nice devotional thought"? No. Because I want to see our generation walk the “old path” of reverent and (therefore) radical discipleship. I want us to live a life of following Jesus so closely that we simply must look to the hope of the next life just in order to keep going in this one. So let us leave our nets, take up our dusty swords and use them on our own hearts, and follow our Rejected (yet Reigning) King of Creation. His glory awaits only those who follow in his footsteps—and his footsteps lead only to the cross.
Suggested Reading:
Matthew 8:19-22
Hebrews 12:1-11
1 Peter 1:3-9
posted by Unknown at 9/09/2004 11:00:00 AM
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