Christian Thinking
Come, thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace. Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Here I raise mine Ebenezer, hither by they help I’m come. And I hope by Thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.
These words from the 18th century hymn, “Come, Thy Fount of Every Blessing” capture beautifully what it means to think about our spiritually blessings and to consider eternity. But these are not just beautiful words. This no mere poem. And it does not just help us get by. Such consideration of heaven and of Christ Himself is the very operating system of Christian thinking, without which we are sure to suffer unnecessary distraction, frustration, inconvenience, worry, temptation and sin.
Thinking Spiritually. It is by looking on Christ, the fountain head of every blessing that we are happy in God, truly grateful for all He’s done for us and provided us in Him. From this place of love and gratitude, we find ourselves compelled to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel. How could we (previously hopeless sinners) be shown such grace by a perfectly holy God, and at the same time be irreparably offended by a friend? How could we be accepted so fully and lovingly by the father, because of all Christ has done on our behalf and in our place, and at the same time be consumed by our neighbor’s opinion of us? Unforgiveness, man-pleasing and discontentedness are inconsistent with the Gospel and they defy our testimony. A Christian who does not think spiritually about their identity and blessed position in Christ ends up like a rich man who digs for scraps in a dumpster; it is unbecoming, embarrassing, unnecessary and really very sad. May we live lives consistent with the Gospel and who we are in Christ, thinking spiritually about what truly matters and what pleases the Lord Jesus Christ. Satisfied in Him, we are able to display and proclaim the Gospel with every aspect of our life.
Considering Eternity. It is by setting our minds on eternity with God that we are strengthened to live for God in this life. Christ promises the persecuted church at Smyrna, “be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” And yet, it does not take persecution to struggle to be faithful. No one skates into eternity having not known the burden of sin, loss, severe pain, doubt or a crippling love for this world. But because of Christ and all He’s done, there awaits an eternal reward for all who are faithful and who work to glorify God with their lives. It is worth it. In fact, Scripture describes our struggles here “light and momentary” and that they are “preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison.” With this in mind, what temptation can the Christian not confidently resist? What hard path can she not walk? What diagnosis, disease, disfunction or oppression can he not endure? After all, Christ was patient, even silent, when beaten and led to death. Even He endured the cross “for the joy set before Him” – eternity with the Father, and with us.
The whole of the Christian life could be described as simply learning and then continually remembering who we are and what we have in Christ (reconciliation with God, the love of God, the care of God, every spiritual blessing, wisdom, the Holy Spirit, and the hope of eternal life with Him. And that’s skipping some!) These truths were not intended only to save us, but also to sanctify and strengthen us. How else do we live holy, happy, except by thinking spiritually of Christ and the Gospel? How else do we live faithful lives, except by considering our eternal reward? This is where the rubber meets the road, every day, until we go to be with Him. I challenge you to frustrate, tempt or discourage a Christian who is (at least in the moment) perfectly satisfied in God and fully alive to who they are in Him. It won’t happen. Why? Because the Truths of the Gospel are as practical as they are powerful, and because they compel us in profound ways to live in a manner worthy of the name and teaching of God (1 Tim. 6:1-2,17-19). And sustaining it all is our love for Him and our desire to know Him fully and be with Him forever!