jettie_hess@yahoo.com
"For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Do you realize what these words mean to a true Christian? Is it much too wonderful to comprehend? Well there is an answer to both questions.
These beautiful words promise resurrection from the dead, not only when we pass from this human existence, but in our lives today. When God called us to His Son, Jesus, we were compelled and willingly put off the old man to become new creatures in Christ. Our old man (the flesh) died when the Lord died. No longer were we sons and daughters of the first man Adam! We became sons and daughters of the new man, the living Christ, raised in perfection, considered holy (cleansed) by the shedding of His blood, and deemed heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven. Is this not great gain? Yes, for us to live is Christ because Christ took all our sin, our shame and penalty to Calvary. Not only ours, but all the sin of the entire world. All of it was placed upon His body that day so that His holy blood might fall upon it to cover it eternally from Gods sight. Is this not great gain?
We clearly remember that person we once were; it now grieves us to the core of our very soul.
After the Holy Spirit was poured out upon us, we rejoiced in Christ! We sang in Christ! We danced in Christ! We loved in Christ! And, for the first time ever, we knew an inward sweet peace. We saw the little birds for the first time, the butterfly became wondrous to us, the green trees were more beautiful than we had ever known. The sky became a lovely cathedral ceiling over us, and the song He placed in our hearts could be heard by all who came near. Yes, for us to live is Christ. We are not our own, for we have been redeemed and our ransom has been accepted, paid in full. For His great love we shall forever remain grateful.
To each of us God gives a measure of faith; by it, we comprehend all truth. Is this not great gain? Wonderful? Yes, much too wonderful for me.
Am I a true Christian?
Were my sins all washed away
By the precious blood of the perfect lamb
On that cruel and darkened day?
Do I understand the meaning of love
By the example that He gave?
Do I now love Him with all my heart
And know no fear at a thought of the grave?
Do I inwardly sing sweet sons of love
Each day and every night
To the holy One of Israel who is
The way, the truth and the light?
If I can answer a sincere yes
To all the questions above
Then I must know my wonderful state
And my true position in His great love.
Coyright 2005 by Jettie C. Hess