What Was Dead in Me

What was dead in me was all of me, but now Christ lives inside of me.

He is still making himself at home in my heart and through the homemaking process many collections from my old self are being discarded. Anger, pride, lust and the like are pushed out and replaced with patience, meekness, holiness, and even more joy.

What was dead in me, now has no reign over me.

However, that which was dead in me must not yet be through with me. It bangs at the door of my soul and lurks about my mind looking for a way back in. Is this why I feel unsettled many days? Is this the cause of my unbalanced walking?

Is this the darkness that clings so close, the ever lingering dread of the things which were dead in me?

If that which was dead in me returned to me, then it would find no place in me, for I am not my own. I belong to Christ and he is the one who keeps me. He keeps me at peace. He keeps me longing for the Father. He keeps me hungry for his word. He keeps me reaching for heaven.

Now, I press on towards what is ahead and waste no time looking behind. That which was dead in me was finite and has been paid for. The life I have now received is eternal and compounding till I receive my reward in glory.

I crave Christ’s return and long to see his face, not simply to complete life’s trodding, but to marvel at the majesty and revelation of the mystery of his gospel, that he took what was dead in me and put new life in me.

The everlasting joy I now have in Christ is multi-faceted and ever evolving. I find within myself a joy that is persevering in times of sorrow, steadily abounding in the promise of salvation, shouting praises towards my Holy Savior, and quietly calming my mind with the hope of peace. When I examine the workings of Christ in my life it is difficult to find an area not increasingly slanted towards joy.

Again, this is because what was dead in me has no hold on me, because Christ lives in me.

The glory of the gospel is that by God’s providence I was graciously granted new life by faith in his Son, Jesus. Christ took my shame, my sin, and all that was dead in me to give me new life. No other name was capable of such a task and I will never ascribe my own to the credit only Christ deserves.

He took what was dead in me upon himself and this resulted in him being accursed and me being blessed.

Lord, who but you would do such a thing?

For your own glory and by your own blood you destroyed all that was dead in me.

Thank you for putting new life in me. May your gospel keep saving, your word keep convicting, and your name keep growing among the nations. For your glory in Christ Jesus,

Amen.