1 CORINTHIANS 1:30-31 – And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews would tell us how the Christian life is lived – Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2). It is our looking unto Jesus through the eyes of faith that is to capture the heart, mind, and will of God’s people. The question we must ask is this . . . “What does this looking to Jesus by faith mean?”
In today’s scripture is an all-encompassing picture of Jesus that directs our faith gaze upon. The Apostle Paul provides the description of Jesus that we are to grasp. It is the totality of what Christ is to His people.
First, Christ is the Christian’s wisdom. He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). As our wisdom, we have the source of divine insight and understanding of what life is like in this world and how the Christian is given the wisdom of how to live life in this world. Next, Christ is our righteousness which places us in a reconciled relationship with God the Father. Jesus gives us His righteousness meaning our standing before a holy and righteous God is secure because we stand before Him in the righteousness imputed to us. We also look unto Jesus as our sanctification. We are set apart for God (that is what sanctification means) and are being conformed to the image of Christ (that is the working out of sanctification). And finally, Christ is our redemption. In this glorious truth, Christ buys us off the slave market of sin and places upon us the stamp that reads “My possession.” Jesus redeemed us by the price of His own blood.
Yes, we look to Jesus by faith for Him to be all we need for now and eternity. Soon we will exchange our faith for sight as illustrated by the great hymnwriter Fanny Crosby.
Fanny gave us more than 8000 Gospel songs. Although blinded at the age of 6 weeks, she never held any bitterness in her heart because of it. Once a preacher sympathetically remarked, “I think it is a great pity that the Master did not give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you.” She replied quickly, “Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I should be born blind?” “Why?” asked the surprised clergyman. “Because when I get to Heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!”
And this will be our privilege too. The Christ we knew by faith in this world will be the Christ we shall look upon with delight, awe, and love for all eternity.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to fix my mind, heart, and will upon Your Son.”
QUOTE: “Jesus is everything we need in this life and for all eternity.”