Dead Enough to Be Good Enough

We've made a mistake.

We have made following Jesus more about what happens when we die than how we live here on Planet Earth.

We've marketed our relationship with the King of Glory as little more than fire insurance.

Death always comes before a resurrection, but many of us get stuck on the death. We hear much more "die to yourself" than we do "come out of your grave" or "walk in the power of your resurrection."

We forget— or don't know— that the power Jesus displayed on Earth is avaliable to us. For your life, your family's life, your community, and the world.

We won't need to walk in the same power that raised Christ from the dead when we reach eternity. Everything will be as it should be.

We will be perfectly whole.

We need that power now.

Here.

In this life.

Philippians 3:10-12 tells us Jesus didn't come to make us

DEAD ENOUGH TO BE GOOD ENOUGH.

He came to give us life, and life abundantly, which means:

all-encompassing,

more than we need,

overflowing,

beyond expectation,

going past known and expected limits,

to be fully and completely alive.

It's about more than "fire insurance" or gritting your teeth against this world, holding on by your fingernails until you find the escape hatch.

It's more than following the rules, so we might, maybe, fingers crossed, slide into Heaven by the skin of our teeth.

It's about being so well acquainted with the Good Father that we greet his joyful involvement in our life with a childlike expectancy that asks, "What's next, Papa?"

It's more than waiting by your grave so you don't have far to fall. It's about risking it all for the Kingdom of God. It's about doing what he's called you to do no matter the opposition or effort.

Jesus never intended for us to grope around in the dark because we're afraid to open our eyes. He came to light the way to a superior realm, a better way, a more beautiful truth.

What if we started telling people that life with Jesus is about the goodness of God seeping into your life and leaking out into the world?

What if we told them it's about watching him turn the ashes of your life into something beautiful and irreplaceable? Just like he turned water into wine and fed thousands with just a few loaves and fishes, he can turn our little lives, offerings, and obediences into something beautiful and life-giving.

Ultimately, living a rich life with Jesus is about more than just hoping to make it into Heaven someday. It's about being caught in the floodgates of his abundance and giving out of that to make a difference.

Life with Jesus is about being a trustworthy partner with him as we navigate life, decisions, and circumstances, knowing that all we have is his.

Romans 8:15-17 The Message

This resurrection life you received from God is

not a timid, grave-tending life.

It’s adventurously expectant,

greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?”

God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are.

We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children.

And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance!

We go through exactly what Christ goes through.

If we go through the hard times with him,

then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!