This Is the Life

“This is the Life!” Have you ever heard someone say that? Lying on a white sandy beach, watching the sunset and the ocean waves roll in without a care in the world. “This is the Life!” Relaxing on a boat out on some crystal clear lake with a fishing rod in one hand and a nice cold beer in the other. “This is the Life!” Enjoying a retirement where you live in a luxurious condo right next to your favorite eighteen-hole golf course to which you just happen to hold a lifetime membership. “This is the Life!” We can all close our eyes and dream about things that sound so good.

My wife and I recently observed a milestone anniversary here in Door County and I thanked God for giving us great experiences that made me think “This is the Life!”

But God says to us: “Your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:4) and  “You have been raised with Christ…Our God has done what no one else could even imagine. At the time of our baptism or when He caused us to hear and believe the message of God’s love for sinners in Christ, He gave us a brand new spiritual life. From that moment on, whatever Jesus did perfectly in our place, we got credit for in the sight of God. His death on the cross paid for our sins. His resurrection from the dead means we have a clean slate with God. He has made us new men, new women, new children, washed clean in Jesus’ blood, dressed up in the beauty of Jesus perfect righteousness. In our risen Lord we have the chains of our sins broken and we can live to God’s glory. Yes, beloved in the Lord: “Your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

Are we living this new life that’s now hidden with Christ? Are we living in the power of His resurrection? You know, this pandemic stuff and all the constant talk about it, it’s just no good. The discouraging day in day out news can paralyze us and make us all depressed. But far worse is what I’ll call spiritual depression. There is lack of focus on the things of God and so very little of His will is getting done. The ugly habits of our old sinful nature like to hang on so tight. Pettiness, selfishness, and living in constant worry are such strong forces in our lives. The words that should be spoken aren’t. The love that needs to show through doesn’t. The prayers that need to be prayed aren’t. The Bible that cries to be read gathers dust. First things are moved to last place. Our commitment to Christ becomes pretty shaky. Spiritual depression is bad news. Who of us here hasn’t suffered that kind of depression in our lives?

There is only one cure for it. Repent of sin and turn back to Jesus. A burdened heart that looks to the Savior for forgiveness will always receive it. Here in our Savior we will always find a new life, in the midst of life itself, a life that will refresh, and sustain us in every changing circumstance. Here in our Savior we will always discover real power to say no to any and all our old sinful ways and to change what’s wrong in our lives right now. Here in our Savior we will always find the strength and the desire to faithfully serve Him in whatever role he has assigned us in this world – parent, child, spouse, student, breadwinner, church worker, grandparent, you name it! Best of all, here in our Savior we have the guarantee of a sure, certain, and truly out of this world future life.  A life that’s hidden with Christ, “This is the Life!” Risen Lord Jesus, give us all such a life.  

Pastor Carl Schroeder, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Sturgeon Bay