The Christian Life is a Transformed One

   Christ is expressed and extended when an individual, in a relationship with Christ, responds to the leading of the Spirit of God.  This is what the Holy Spirit testified to, when in Romans, we are told “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the first born among many brothers” (Romans 8:29).  When we respond to the leading of the Spirit, we are simply allowing Christ within us to be seen and touched through us.  If, as a group of believers, we walk in response to the Spirit, we collectively reflect the fullness of Christ.
            However, what we see daily is a people who collectively act like spoiled children demanding for attention,  rather than giving headship to so great a salvation and the Author of it (Hebrews 2:1-4).  Our actions are due to the fact that we have so easily forgotten that the central issue in a Christian’s life is the becoming more like Christ than it is to merely go somewhere or do something.  Our efforts should be to realize the necessity of a God-centered focus instead of a man-centered approach to the pursuit of God.
            It is an act of immaturity to relegate spiritual reality to the past or to the future.  We should never be satisfied with a return to the barren pathway of living in the past experiences or the dreamy imaginations of the future.  Spiritual reality demands that we participate in the life of the Sprit, cultivating the Lord’s presence, and responding proactively to the Spirit’s leading in our walk.  In this way we become a channel of God’s expression of His glory, pleasure and satisfaction; a situation that allows us to be in a continuous living relationship with Christ Himself.
            For this reason, the Holy Spirit testified through the Apostle Paul saying, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17).  God’s intent is for all of Himself to be in His Son.  For at last, God’s secret plan is now made known in Christ Himself.  So, just as one trusted Christ to be saved, one must also trust Christ for each day’s problems to be taken care of as they arise, if we are in a vital union with Him (Colossians 2:2).  For in Christ is all of God (Colossian 2: 9).
            So we have everything when we have Christ, and we are filled with God through our union with Him.  Christ is the highest ruler over every other power (Colossians 2:10).  In this new life one’s relationship was not based on nationality, or race or education or social position in life.  All these are unimportant.  Such things mean nothing.  What matters is whether a person has Christ and He is equally available to all.  Indeed, any person who would accept Christ’s offer of Himself, as the true path to eternal life, and a relationship with God, achieved on the basis of His death and resurrection,is on the path to Christlikeness. The Christian life, therefore, is becoming more like Christ, which is Christ likeness, our expressive calling in life.
T. Cyprian Kia