THE FOCAL POINT

9th MAY 2023

 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. – 1 Corinthians 15:20

The focus of every Christian is the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which continues to spark debate. Notwithstanding what you believe, the resurrection of Jesus Christ becomes relevant when you come to understand the mystery of His death. 

First, you need to understand that every human being is on a transformational journey of life to make us genuinely transformed to become the image of Jesus Christ or the image of God. Therefore, a Christian is on a spiritual journey to become like Jesus.  As a Christian, your transformational journey becomes smooth and faster when you decide to follow in the footsteps of Christ in obedience and sacrifice. 

The peak of a Christian’s transformational journey is death or loss of identity. In John 12:24, Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” 

 That is a vital reality of the kingdom of God, which is the ultimate goal of a Christian. Jesus says that the hour has come for him to be glorified, to die like a kernel of wheat. Following the master, therefore, you must be ready to Lay down your life at the feet of Jesus, to die with him to live in him. In this way, you will bear fruit, perhaps a hundredfold (Mt 13:1-20).

Today reminds us that as Jesus resurrected from the dead to win the crown of Glory, we shall all die, figuratively, to produce the fruits of the kingdom of God. For Jesus, he is in his human form as this kernel of wheat. To bear fruit and “produce many seeds,” He must cease to be a kernel of wheat but morph into what that seed is destined to become; which is a tree full of multiple seeds of wheat.

Moving forward, note that the Holy Spirit gives the power of fulfillment of the gospel. The road to completion of your Christian journey becomes easy to thread, knowing that the actual death is in changing form to become the image of Christ; Which in itself is a life of obedience that causes Christ to resurrect from the deep slumber of yesteryears within you. Therefore, obedience to God’s command and following the Master’s footsteps gives the key and final ascent to Christhood. But remember, Jesus already won the victory over death and suffering. The journey is therefore easier when we hold onto Jesus.

For the above reason, you must understand the mysteries of your day-to-day challenges, or suffering; It is actually the process of unfolding into Christhood.  

PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, today I face my inner sanctuary to behold thy light. I declare your light shines through me into the hearts of men and throughout all things. Awake, and lead me on my life’s journey. AMEN. 

FURTHER READING: 

Matthew 10:5-6; Ephesians 2:11-13; 1 Corinthians 15:13, 14