A few years ago, I was a teenager who was drawn by the allure of the American Dream. The country’s national ethos instilled in me the hope of prosperity and seemed to promise this in exchange for hard work and achievement. Thus, as a young teen armed with hopeful ideals, I eagerly set out on my quest to earn “the good life” and carve out my American Dream.
Today, I am a 22 year old at the cusp of graduation at the University of Texas and am no longer pursing the American Dream. Why the change? Well, sometime near the beginning of my senior year, I had a revelation that simultaneously wrecked my American Dream and saved me into an eternal purpose. While considering how to best start my career out of college, I realized that God’s purpose for me isn’t to pursue a good life; God’s purpose for me is to enjoy a good land—Christ.
Christ is our good land. In Deuteronomy 8:7-10, Christ is typified as a rich, all-inclusive land in which we “will not lack anything”. This is the land that God had promised to give Abraham. In Colossians 1 and 2, Paul identifies Christ as the reality of this good land, our allotted portion, and commands us to walk in Him. The charge to “walk in Him” begs the question, How?
Not surprisingly, the answer is in the Bible. In Exodus 23, God sent the angel of Jehovah to keep His people in the way and bring them into the good land. Likewise, today, Christ is leading us deeper into Himself as the good land. Thus, as New Testament believers, we can walk in Christ by following His leading in our spirit, and the key to our following is our listening. Just as the Israelites were charged to “listen to His voice” (Exo. 23:21), we need to hear His voice in order to follow Him (John 10:27). By obeying His inner speaking, we allow Christ to lead us into the good land and into a deeper enjoyment of Himself.
The key to our following is our listening.
If we are willing to listen, He is able to lead. This process of listening and following will characterize our Christian walk for the rest of our lives. In Philippians 3, Paul said “I do not account of myself to have laid hold; but one thing I do… pursue toward the goal for the prize”. Even after being a Christian for nearly 30 years, Paul had not laid hold of all there is in Christ. Similarly, we will not lay hold of all the riches of Christ for many years. However, we should be encouraged by Deuteronomy 11:24,
Every place on which the sole of your foot treads will be yours.
It may take us a lifetime, but with each step we take, we will gain a little more Christ. With each step, we go deeper into our good land. With each step, we discover and possess new aspects of Christ. Whatever aspect of Christ we walk in will become ours. This is what is promised to us in God’s word. Our walking in Christ will be a lifelong pursuit, but this pursuit will culminate in the full enjoyment of Christ as our all-inclusive land. Just like everything the children of Israel needed was in that land, everything we need is in Christ.
Thus, as a soon-to-be graduate, my pursuit is no longer a good life, but a lifelong walk in Christ as my good land. I still occasionally find myself desiring the physical stuff that characterizes “the good life”, but then I realize that ephemeral things are nothing compared to eternal things. Consequentially, I have no need to plan and lead myself to a good life. I simply need to listen, walk, and pray that Christ will lead me, step by step, in His everlasting way.
- L.O.V.E. and Moving On - June 8, 2016
- Burdened and Burdening - April 1, 2016
- And Peter—A Lesson in God’s Heart For Us - February 26, 2016
Amen!
I enjoyed what you said, “today, Christ is leading us deeper into Himself as the good land.” Indeed, in this good land, we lack nothing. Paul also said in 1 Cor. 1:7 that we do not lack in any gift. Gift here refers to the inward gifts issuing from grace, such as the free gift of eternal life (Rom. 6:23) and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). It’s truly marvelous that we inherit so much richness in Christ. Your choice is wise. World is really nothing compared to gaining Christ. Let’s us go deeper into Himself!!
Amen! Christ is our land, our life, our supply, and even our very person. He is everything that we need!
I like this point: “The key to our following is our listening. If we are willing to listen, He is able to lead.”
I love this: “The key to our following is our listening” Lord, give us ears to hear Your speaking to us as we follow You deeper and deeper into God.
From one student to another, thank you for sharing this! May we learn to enjoy Christ as our good land more each day.