What benefits in this life come from justification, adoption and sanctification?

The other day, I picked up a bedraggled little book from the floorboard of our Suburban, the gathering place of the crumbs of a busy life with kids, pets and activities too numerous to count.

 

Turning it over, I spied a familiar title "The Westminster Shorter Catechism in Modern English." My girls just finished a five-month-long Sunday School class preparing them to become communicant members in our Presbyterian church. Each week, they were required to bring this booklet plus a workbook and their bible. The easiest way to remember everything often meant leaving the items in the pocket behind the front seats of the car. This little book showed signs of water damage and dirty footprints from falling onto the floorboard more than once.

 

But, the words were still readable when I happened to open it to page 11 where I read the question at the top of the page:

 

Q. 36 What benefits in this life go with or come from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

A. The benefits that in this life go with or come from justification, adoption, and sanctification are: the assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit, and growing and persevering in the grace to the end of our lives.

 

What glorious benefits we enjoy as Christians here and now. Yes, life with Christ in eternity is a wonderful end result of being called by God but right here and now, on a daily basis, we can bask in God's love, be filled with joy and knowledge that we are God's children, citizens of a greater kingdom. Let there be joy in serving God today in every way!

 

I love the show "Lost" about a group of individuals stuck on a remote island after their plane crashed. The show has progressed with so many twists and turns that often one feels "lost" after watching it. This year touts the title "the final season" and in it several members are becoming disillusioned with the death of a prominent leader for whom they gave their life and service. They were promised that everything had a purpose and a reason -- that their sacrifices were not in vain. Now this leader has been killed, though his ghost appears at random giving strange instructions to one individual, and everyone is thrown into confusion and upset. The theme of the show is becoming more and more of a loosely biblical parallel as the leader they sacrificed their lives for is now dead but keeps showing up in visions to give instruction and the evil force in the land is gathering followers as he shows up as a familiar figure we also know to have been killed but can come and go at will and disappear into thin air. It is the basic good versus evil theme and "who are you going to follow - to what end?"

 

I won't confuse you further with the details but when I watch the show, I can't help but think of my life and assess what I am doing and why when I see these characters trying to make sense of their own decisions. It makes you think about where your allegiances lie - in the time you spend, in the activities you enjoy, in the books you read and the movies you watch. I am grateful that my "leader" is the almighty, all-knowing God able to grant grace and mercy not to mention peace, joy and hope.

Do you find yourself sometimes "lost" in the current of life? Take a moment to be reminded why and for whom you exist. Rejoice in the benefits of being a child of God as you seek guidance on where to place your priorities, your precious moments here on Earth. If you don't know the joys of a life in Christ, I would be happy to share with you more about it!

Psalm 134:

A Song of Ascents:

Come bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord!

Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!

May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!