Dead on the Outside, Alive in Christ: Finding True Life and Peace in Jesus

Sheila and I have taken a couple of trips down to Gastonia, NC, to visit the Schiele Museum. If you haven’t been, it’s a pretty remarkable place full of taxidermied animals from all over the world, and that even includes some that are extinct. From a saber-tooth tiger to a Kodiak bear, a bald eagle, and a buffalo, it’s a really remarkable place. We’ve gone more than once cause there’s a lot to take in (I think Sheila likes it too, or she just loves me )

However, there’s one primary issue you run into while you’re there. For all the many animals, and the beauty of their coats and sizes, everything is dead. There are one or two living animals in a petting zoo area outside, and a turtle or two inside, but otherwise, everything is still. Now, that might be good when it comes to being face-to-face with a lion or a bobcat, sure. But for as special as that place is, there’s nothing quite like seeing those animals alive—watching them roam around hunting for food; seeing them nuzzle their young and teaching them how to hunt; watching them rest under a tree somewhere. There’s real wonder in seeing one of those animals exist as God intended it to, at least on this side of the Fall. Watching living things live as God meant is a beautiful sight.

The Bible tells us something of death, and like in John 10:10, it says this: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. Jesus came to give us life as we were always intended to have. He meant for us to live in his purpose for our lives and to do so with joy and peace about our lives and him. Because of sin, the enemy comes and tempts us into things which seem nice on the outside but only lead to death: death of our peace, our joy, and our purpose.

It’s kind of like those dead animals. They look amazing on the outside. Spotted coats and sharp teeth. But there is no life to them because they are dead. Sin is like this. However, when we know Jesus, AND we pursue a relationship with him, he brings life to calm our fears, check our worries, and remove our desire for those things which we want but don’t need. In order for us to have the life he brings, we must get close to him and stay near to him – and we will find the life of peace and purpose he meant for us to have.

I don’t know what temptations you’re facing or worries you’re worried over, but I know this—Christ will bring you peace if you get close to him by asking him to get close to you. And be here with us too. In worship, Sunday school, and elsewhere, you can draw near to him, too. You can count on others to point you to true life, which is in Christ alone. Take a look at our newsletter and see what’s going on this month, and be here!

See You Soon,