It’s a cold, rainy January day. The Christmas season has passed, and it’s right about this time that saying Happy New Year starts to get a little awkward. Not only have season’s greetings come to a close, but sicknesses are now on the upswing.
You might be reading this now and thinking, “Thanks so much, pastor, for the encouraging words. I was thinking the exact same thing. Perhaps you could share something that might lift my spirits.”
Let’s consider together the phrase “All of Christ for all of life.” It sure sounds like a catchy slogan – something that I could hashtag on my social media posts or sign my emails with. But what exactly does it mean?
Before I do, allow me to heartily recommend The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson. In this wonderful work, Ferguson helps us, as Christians, see the beauty of Christ in the fullness of the gospel, keeping us from the ditches of both legalism and antinomianism.
But coming back to the phrase at hand, I think we can all agree that life is complex, and it’s easy to compartmentalize. I have my home life, my work life, my spiritual life, my leisure life, and so much more. Part of the constant struggle is finding balance and, most importantly, rest in Christ.
Rather than seeing all the many parts, what if we understood their integration into the whole person and entire work of Christ? Hence, all of Christ for all of life. He is not just the Lord on Sunday mornings but in every area. He invites us to come to him and find rest (Matthew 11:28-30). Psalm 46:10 tells us to cease striving and to know that I am God, which complements what Hebrews 4:10 tells us. We are to strive to enter that rest. What rest? The Sabbath rest. What is Sabbath rest? It’s resting in the work that God has completed in Christ. If you trust in Christ, you have entered into a saving rest. How powerful. How comforting. How wonderful.
Keep looking to all of Christ, all of His benefits, all of His spiritual blessings – the whole Christ, not just the parts of Him. Be still and know that He is God (Ps. 46:10). He is God. He is the maker of heaven and earth (Ps. 146:6). The very One who has all power, all authority, all wisdom, and all presence is for you! That’s right. There is now, therefore, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1).
He has freed you from the penalty of sin and death. He has created you in Christ (Eph. 2:10), and He is making all things new (Rev. 21:5).
All of Christ in sickness. All of Christ in health. All of Christ in broken relationships. All of Christ in healthy relationships. All of Christ for all of life. Let the phrase ring through your soul as you consider the richness of the person and work of Christ from all of the Scriptures.