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Freedom! It's one of the greatest rallying cries in our country today. We are free to say what we want, to be what we want, to do what we want. Christians in America are even “free in Christ.” We bask in the radiance of this cultural ideal, and even spread the good tidings of freedom around the world.
However, for a Christian “Getting a Life” is a bit more faceted than merely claiming freedom in Christ. In some of the last recorded spoken words of
Christ, he reminded his followers that, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).
Authority receives a pretty bad rap these days. Post-moderns don’t like authority or authoritative statements (except for the statement that there are no authoritative statements!). College years are a time for many students to throw off the supposed shackles of authority and truly find themselves. And yet, surely there is a message for us here. Even for us post-moderns and rebels, Jesus’ statement of authority helps us live life to its fullest as we enter the world to be salt and light.
First, our Lord’s statement reminds us that there are no coincidences. We should be encouraged to know that because Jesus has all authority, nothing will happen on our campus, our churches, or around the world that is outside of the control of Jesus. Every experience we have, whether we perceive it to be good or bad, occurs ultimately under the control of Jesus. Nothing will happen to you this year on campus that will surprise Jesus. He will never say, “Boy, I didn’t see that one coming!”
Second, his claim to all authority reminds us that no foot will fall on soil this year that is outside of the kingdom of God. You may cross several
time zones getting to school this semester. Or, you may traverse as many as five international borders, moving farther and farther away from your own country to be part of a mission effort this year. Jesus’ word to us as we go out into the world this year is that regardless of how many borders you cross, regardless of where your feet fall, you will always be within the reign of God. Take courage in that. No one reading this article will plant their foot in soil this year that is outside of the kingdom of God.
Last, Jesus’ statement of authority reminds us that part of living a fulfilling life is simply learning to obey. While the current desire among modern Western Christians to have deeper and more fulfilling worship experiences with Christ is certainly good for the church, we must still confess that when we call God “Father,” we are admitting that we are his children and will do as he says. Obedience, regardless of how we feel, is one of the fires God uses to mold us into the image of Jesus. Living an overflowing life in Christ means we willingly submit more and more of our life to him. It means we call him not only Savior, but come to know him as Lord.
Craig Altrock and his wife Leslee worked four years with the campus ministry in Memphis, TN during graduate school. They now live in Fort Worth, Texas, and serve with Let’s Start Talking, mobilizing college students every year to share
their faith and their lives in mission settings domestically and around the world. They have three boys; Joshua (6), Matthew (3), and Andrew (9
months).
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