May 21st, 2021 – Friday Afternoon
“It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him…” ~2 Timothy 2:11
Do you need something to live by today? How about this “trusty” statement? Seem a bit basic or rudimentary? At the outset, yes, it is basic and rudimentary (not that that isn’t a reason for great joy or passion), but when you stop to consider…maybe we should do that!
If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we die with Him, we will also live with Him. I believe this verse has three main applications: 1. If we died with Jesus in His death (which is true if He is now our Savior and Lord), we will also live with Him for all of eternity after the final resurrection. 2. If we are identified with Jesus’ death, we are alive now for the purposes and glory of God by the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. 3. If we die physically with Christ (as His servant, sheep, and vessel), we will indeed live with Him; He is faithful and physical death is not the end of the line for those who hope in Him to the end.
Those three applications have some serious ramifications for us. First off, to know Christ means our death – the death of our fleshly nature that is opposed to God and, for some of us, our physical death for His sake. Second, it means that our life is His life – not only does it belong to Him, but it can only function through His power and under His authority. Third, this journey is not temporary – we aren’t called to a single decision or a lone act of faith, but to a lifetime of faithfulness and persistent trust in Him. Finally, the eternity of joy, power, life, and glory that we enjoy now and then will so overwhelm any affliction, sacrifice, and death that the two cannot even be compared! (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
Praise the Lord that when we die to sin and the flesh through Christ that He raises us to His abundant life! Praise Him that such joy and glory await those who trust in Him! And let us die today for Him – to ourselves, to sin, and to every distraction – remembering that we will indeed live now and forever with Him!