This article is a summary of the following episode: The Re-Purposed Driven Life
Last week we talked about what it means to be tired in this fallen world. We looked at the reality of life as saints who are also sinners, and how we often imagine that one day things will be easier. That day never comes in this life. This week is about the “now what?” question. If the Christian life is marked by weakness and struggle, what do we do with that? How do we live in light of it?
This is a deeply personal question for us. We do not wake up every day thinking with perfect perspective. But we know where our hope is found, and we want to point each other back to it. Scripture calls us to lift our eyes off of the things that are seen and set them on the things that are unseen. We are physical people, and we are trained by nature to live by sight. But the Lord tells us to live by faith, to see with the eyes of the heart.
Paul’s words in Colossians 3 are a beautiful starting point:
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
This is our reality in Christ. We have died with him, and our lives are hidden with him in God. When he returns, we will appear with him in glory. This perspective is what shapes how we live now.
Children of God
We are not merely servants in the kingdom of God. We are his children. That title changes everything. A child approaches a loving father with confidence, not fear. God is more inclined to give us mercy and grace because we belong to him. This identity is meant to steady us, especially when we are weak.
Temples of the Holy Spirit
Paul tells us that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, God’s presence was confined to the Holy of Holies, approached only once a year by the high priest. Now that same Spirit dwells in us. The presence and power that once filled the tabernacle now fills his people. This is both humbling and empowering. When we speak the truth of the gospel, the Spirit works through us.
Ambassadors for Christ
Every believer has been sent into the world as an ambassador of Christ. We are citizens of another kingdom, representing our King in the midst of a dark and broken world. The work is not just for pastors or missionaries. God places his people in homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities as his representatives.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 10 that the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. Through the truth of the gospel, God tears down the lies and arguments that keep people from him. This is his work, and he does it through weak vessels so that his power is clearly seen.
Hope That Fuels Perseverance
Living with this identity and purpose changes how we face suffering. We know that our labor is not in vain because Christ has already won the victory. The resurrection guarantees our future. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15, the mortal will put on immortality, death will be swallowed up in victory, and the sting of death will be gone. Until that day, we labor with hope, knowing that Christ is building his kingdom.
The Perspective of the Kingdom
The world we live in is scarred by the war of sin and death. Jesus has already won, and now we go into the enemy’s territory to rescue those who are still enslaved. The gates of hell cannot keep us out because Christ has broken them. He is preparing a place for us, and he will return to make all things new. In the meantime, we proclaim the gospel and comfort one another. This is why the gathering of the church matters so much. We need encouragement, discipleship, and restoration so that we can continue in the work God has given us.
You Matter
If you are alive today, God has work for you. No believer is insignificant in his kingdom. Whether your influence feels large or small, you carry the light of Christ into dark places. You are his child, his temple, his ambassador. Every act of kindness, every conversation about Jesus, every prayer is a part of his work to draw people from darkness into light.
The Life to Come
Our ultimate hope is not in this life but in the life to come. The resurrection of Jesus guarantees our resurrection. One day we will be with him, free from sin and sorrow, and joy will be our constant reality. This hope shapes how we live today. It steadies us in suffering and strengthens us in service.
Until that day, we wake up each morning knowing that Christ is with us and working through us. Our labor is not in vain. We live, serve, and suffer with the certain hope that the King is coming, and when he does, everything will be made new.
