Found In Him

 

Found In Him – Toni M. Babcock

“…I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ and be found in him…” (Philippians 3:8b-9a CSB).

There is no place we should rather be found than ‘in Jesus’. 

This is the hope of every believer in Christ. 

The alternative is to be ‘un-found’ — lost in a world plagued with evil and sin. 

Jesus knew the stakes involved when he stepped onto planet Earth. 

He once responded to those who chose to not believe His words, 

“…You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins, For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.’” (John 8:23b-24 CSB).

 
This was a dire warning. 

The people he was speaking to were fastidious about keeping the Law and appearing righteous before men. 

However, the weight that tipped the scale was not due to their goodness or badness, but to their sin of unbelief — the one sin that outweighed them all. 

Clothed in their own righteousness, they failed to remove the filthy rags of self-reliance (Isaiah 64:6 NKJV) and clothe themselves with the righteousness of Christ.

The good news is, Christ is Risen; and all who believe have been raised with Him, (Colossians 3:1-4 NKJV) (Ephesians 2:4-10 NKJV). 

As a result, Christ’s resurrection empowers a faith that ‘puts on the Lord Jesus Christ’ forsaking sin to follow Him, (Romans 13:14 NKJV).

 
The empty tomb reminds us of two spiritual realities; to live ‘in Christ’ through faith, or to die in sin in despair, thus the message to the world is clear. 

Let no one carry the weight of unbelief to the grave. Christian, proclaim it — 

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved…” (Acts 16:31 NKJV). Halleluiah!

 
Toni is author of Reflections from the Heart, in Light of the Gospel of Jesus, and The Stone Writer, Christian Fiction for Young Readers and Teens. Contact