Christ, Who is Our Life, by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, 1834-1892

“Christ, who is our life.” — Colossians 3:4

Source

Paul’s marvelously rich expression indicates, that Christ is the source of our life. “You hath He quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins.” That same voice which brought Lazarus out of the tomb raised us to newness of life. ‘

He is now the substance of our spiritual life. It is by His life that we live; He is in us, the hope of glory, the spring of our actions, the central thought which moves every other thought.

Sustenance

Christ is the sustenance of our life. What can the Christian feed upon but Jesus’ flesh and blood? “This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.” O wayworn pilgrims in this wilderness of sin, you never get a morsel to satisfy the hunger of your spirits, except ye find it in Him!

Solace

Christ is the solace of our life. All our true joys come from Him; and in times of trouble, His presence is our consolation. There is nothing worth living for but Him, and His lovingkindness is better than life!

Object

Christ is the object of our life. As speeds the ship towards the port, so hastes the believer towards the haven of his Saviour’s bosom. As flies the arrow to its goal, so flies the Christian towards the perfecting of his fellowship with Christ Jesus. As the soldier fights for his captain and is crowned in his captain’s victory, so the believer contends for Christ and gets his triumph out of the triumphs of his Master. “For him to live is Christ.”

Exemplar

Christ is the exemplar of our life. Where there is the same life within, there will, there must be, to a great extent, the same developments without; and if we live in near fellowship with the Lord Jesus we shall grow like Him. We shall set Him before us as our Divine copy, and we shall seek to tread in His footsteps until He shall become the crown of our life in glory.

Oh! how safe, how honored, how happy is the Christian, since Christ is our life!

About Charles Haddon Spurgeon:  Known as “The Prince of Preachers” Spurgeon’s sound biblical teachings continue to be read, studied and cited by Christians today. A preacher in England in the late 19th century, Spurgeon was a Reformed Baptist theologian and a great defender of the faith opposing liberalism and pragmatism in the church. As one of the Great Cloud of Witnesses, his words live on to equip, encourage, and empower us to know, live, and share our faith.