Many of you know that a few weeks ago I ran this crazy
obstacle race called the Super Spartan.
At the beginning of the race, the announcer roused up over 4,000
participates (at different times throughout the day) and had us shout loudly “I
am Spartan!”. He most likely did
this to get us pumped up and put in our minds that we can complete this
race. It worked! Seeing all shapes and sizes, young and
older with various degrees of athletic ability moving towards the goal of
completing the race is inspirational.
We are Spartan, right! I
saw at least two injured men push through the pain and complete the race. We are Spartan, right! We helped others move through the
impossible obstacles in the race while being helped myself to climb over an 8ft
wall (I am only 5’5”, my gosh). We
are Spartan, right! It is a
powerful motivation to be reminded that we are more than we think to accomplish
this challenging race.
So as I think about the power in telling myself that I am a
Spartan, there is something more powerful in believing that I am a
Christian. As a fellow
sinner, saint and sufferer life in this world can be extremely difficult and
challenging—full of impossible obstacles.
The obstacles could be a serious illness, a broken marriage,
parent-child issues, a challenging boss or employee, roommate differences, lost
job, or just the mundane of daily life (deadlines, chores, homework,
etc.). Being a Christian matters
as we face life challenges.
I don’t know about you but it is easy for me to forget who I
really am and the power that lives in me and then enables me to live as a
Christian. The Apostle Paul in
Romans 8 reminds us of who we are and of that power. This is not an exposition but an encouragement as you face
life challenges and difficulties.
Because of the person and work (his perfect obedient life,
sacrificial death, bodily resurrection, kingly rule, and daily intercession) of
Jesus Christ, Remember this Christian:
- We are no longer condemned! At the cross, Jesus took our condemnation. We were condemned because of our sin, our rebellion against a holy God and yet the perfect God-Man Jesus Christ gladly took our verdict of condemnation when he died for us on the cross. We now stand not guilty before a Holy God because of Jesus. (8:1)
- We are free to live like Jesus! The Spirit of Christ now lives in us and we are free by the Spirit’s power to fight sin that wages war in our lives, to break the hold of heart idols, to show compassion to the hurting, to forgive your spouse, to give mercy to your child, to speak the truth in love to your friend, to encourage others in the faith, and to confront others in their sin. We are free to love sacrificially those who have hurt or hate us. (8:2-8)
- We have Christ resurrected power residing in us! (8:9-11) Wow! This is some power! More than the power of being a Super Spartan, it is a supernatural power—the power that raised a dead person to life! We live freely like Jesus because we have the resurrected power of Jesus in us! Because we are Christians, we can face our difficulties and challenges with hope knowing that we have all we need to work through them—The Holy Spirit working Christ resurrected power in us.
- We are His adopted Children! This is truly amazing. We have the same access Jesus has to the Father. We can honestly cry out to our Father, and he delights to here our cries. He cares for what we are going through. He helps us in our weakness and understands our groans and pains. (8:12-26)
- We are co-heir with Christ! Everything that belongs to God belongs to us. Can you fathom this? The God who created all things, who sustains all things, who is holy and blameless delights to give us Himself and all that belongs to him.
- We are sufferers! - Friends, if a Christian, suffering is part of your story, part of my story! If like me, I don’t like that part of being a Christian. But we need to deal with it! Grasp it! Embrace it! Find Joy in it! Thankful that Christ has ultimately suffered for us (taking the wrath of God on himself for us) and thus thoroughly understands any suffering we experience! (8:17)
- We are glorified! Really don’t know what to say but grateful. Taking a sinner like me who finds delight in so many other things than Jesus and yet He still is and will glorify me is totally an act of radical grace. (8:17)
- We have a final destination! Nothing, absolutely nothing, will separate us from the love of God! Jesus, today and tomorrow and the next day, is actively working on our behalf to bring us home and he is faithful and will do it. This is a truly a guarantee like no other guarantee. There is no small print to read! Our eternal home is secure! (8:18-31)
Christian, whatever you are facing today, may the truth of
Roman not just inspire you, but also truly empower you to live in the reality
of who you are! You are a
Christian! Really, these things
are true about you and me!!
