From material to “majesty of Christ”
I subtitled my previous article on gospel as “From good to grace.” We have seen that it is not our goodness that saves us but the God’s goodness through His son Lord Jesus Christ. In this article we are going to further expand on the topic why gospel matters. Apostle Paul warns the church at Galatia saying: …but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ…if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed (Galatians1:6-9 ESV). This is a serious warning to all especially teachers and preachers. The gospel that proclaims: believe in Jesus and you will be relieved of your sickness, debts, and problems, is foreign to the Biblical gospel. Of course, I am not proposing that we choose to be poor and suffer intentionally in sickness. But the thesis of my article is that prosperity is not the core content of the gospel. The gospel is about Christ and his work on the cross. The gospel is a relationship that blossoms because of forgiveness that was granted through belief in Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross. Gospel is a call to repentance and follow Christ and to become like him. Gospel is all about Christ! Yes, Gospel matters and it influences every aspect of our life.
I like these words by Tim Keller, “The basic premise of religion– that if you live a good life, things will go well for you– is wrong. Jesus was the most morally upright person who ever lived, yet He had a life filled with the experience of poverty, rejection, injustice, and even torture.” My point is if the purpose of the gospel is to make us healthy and wealthy alone (!) we better leave that gospel and choose some other means to fill in. This perverted gospel undermines the power of the gospel to transform the believers and reduce its power to mere present. Well, gospel does promise a fruitful life here on earth that focuses on eternity. We are talking about a change of perspective here. We live our earthly lives for the glory of God, however, with a heavenly perspective. Augustine is often quoted as saying: “God changed my heart and this is the greatest miracle.”
My favourite author C. S. Lewis rightly says, “Prosperity knits a man to the world. He feels that he is finding his place in it, while really it is finding its place in him.” John Piper adds, “Prosperity cannot be a proof of God’s favor, since it is what the devil promises to those who worship him.” Do I need to say anything more? Now this is what the Bible says: Now there is a great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. (I Timothy 6:6-10).
There is a world of difference between knowing God and knowing about God says A. W. Tozer. Our sole purpose in this life is to know Christ and to become like him; to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him and bearing fruit in every good work (Romans 8:28; Colossians 1:10). Seeking spiritual blessings (mentioned in Ephesians 1) far surpass the incomplete satisfaction (!) that health and wealth would bring. The joy of knowing Christ is immeasurable, to grasp the all encompassing love of Christ is unfathomable, to worship him in spirit and in truth is pleasant. Dear brother/sister, are you seeking God for just earthly blessings? Would you take a moment to seek him and not just blessings? To love him and his people as the theme of your life? I promise this will change your perspective of life and your view of God. Trust and obey for there is no other way!!!
I like this song, Blessings by Laura Story:
We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things
‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?
What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?