Three Ways to Live
There are often three ways people live when they go to another country: as immigrants, as tourists, or as exiles. Some live like immigrants. They try to fully assimilate. They adopt the language, the customs, the values, sometimes even losing their original identity along the way. Others live like tourists. They stay, but only on the surface. They keep their distance. They remain in their own bubble, never truly engaging the place or the people.
But then there are exiles. Exiles are different. They do not forget who they are. They keep their identity. And yet, they do not withdraw. They build homes, plant gardens, raise families, and seek the good of the place where they are. This is the picture Scripture gives us.
In John 17, Jesus says we are in the world, but not of the world. We belong here. And yet, we do not belong here. Our true citizenship is in heaven. We set our hearts and minds on the kingdom of God. In other words, we live as missionaries – faithfully present in this world, yet deeply rooted in the kingdom of God. In this sense, every Christian is a missionary.
Raised
In today’s scripture, the Apostle Paul describes our identity in three ways: “You were raised with Christ” (past; verse 1), “You are hidden with Christ” (present; verse 3), and “You will be revealed with Christ” (future; verse 4).
First, we were raised with Christ (v. 1). When Christ died, we died with him. When Christ was risen, we were raised with him. This is our new reality. In Romans 6:11, Paul says, “Consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Notice that word: consider. Remember. Reckon. Live according to what is already true.
Imagine a people who lived for a long time under a cruel king. His rule was harsh and oppressive. Then one day, a good and gracious king takes the throne. The people are now free. They belong to a new ruler. But it takes time. Even though their status has changed, their habits have not. They still act as if they are under the old king. They keep going back, living as if nothing has changed. They must learn to remember: Now we belong to a new king. The Bible gives us this same picture in the story of Exodus. Israel was set free from Egypt. Their status changed completely. They were no longer slaves. They were God’s people. But their hearts took longer to change. They kept looking back to Egypt. They complained. They struggled. They lived with old habits of slavery. That is why the journey took forty years in the wilderness: a time of learning, shaping, and discipline.
The new life is not automatic. It does not happen without effort on our part. As Moule rightly said: “The process of fully becoming detached from the old and fully belonging to the new remains to be painfully and laboriously completed.”[1] So every morning, as we begin a new day, we need to remember: We are a new creation. We were raised with Christ.
Hidden
Second, we are hidden with Christ (v. 3). What does that mean? Negatively, it means putting off the old self – our pride, our need to control, our preferences. Positively, it means putting on the new self – that is, Jesus Christ himself.
A Korean missionary once wrote the poem, “Do You Know What Victory Is?” It beautifully describes what it means to be hidden with Christ:
Do you know what victory is?
Victory is this—
when you are tempted by an easier, more comfortable way…
and you choose to follow only the Lord.
Do you know what victory is?
Victory is this—
when there are so many words you want to say…
and you hold them back…
and let only the Lord speak.
Do you know what victory is?
Victory is this—
no matter the outcome, if Christ is honored…
and His peace fills your heart.
Friends, this is the hidden life. A hidden life with Christ means
Christ becomes more visible, even as we become less. His will replaces our
preferences. His voice becomes clear, as we grow quiet. “No longer I, but
Christ lives in me.” This is the hidden life with Christ. And this is the true
victory.
Revealed
Third, we will be revealed with Christ in glory (v. 4). Jesus Christ himself was hidden. He came to his own people, but they did not receive him. He was misunderstood, rejected, and crucified. But God raised him. And one day, he will come again in glory. The best is yet to come.
There is a story of an old missionary couple returning home after years of service in Africa. They had no pension; their health was broken; they were old now and afraid. On the same ship was President Theodore Roosevelt, returning from a hunting trip. When the ship arrived in New York, there was a great celebration for the president. A band, officials, crowds. But no one noticed the missionaries. They quietly went to a small apartment. That night, the missionary’s spirit broke. He poured out his heart to the Lord. He said, “Lord, I can’t take this. You are not treating us fairly. The President received this tremendous homecoming, but no one met us as we returned home.” But when he finished it, God simply said, “My son, you’re not home yet!”[2] That is our hope. One day, when Christ returns, we will be revealed with him in glory.
The Life of Adoniram Judson
This week I reread the biography of Adoniram Judson, the first American missionary sent to a foreign country. At age 25, he and his wife, Ann, age 23, went to Burma. They had three children there. All three died. The first was stillborn. The second lived 17 months. The third lived two years and died six months after her mother. And yet, they stayed.
For me, one of the most moving moments in his life is how he asked to marry Ann. Adoniram Judson knew he was going to Burma. So he wrote to Ann’s father. And he did not hide anything. He asked:
Missionary Mindset
This week, I also had the privilege of interviewing Brian Ketchum with the help of Diane. He worked hard and became successful. But later in life, he started what he called a “jelly mission.” He said, “I've spent my whole life trying to buy something for less than it was worth and then sell it for more than it was worth. I don’t want to do that anymore. From now on, I’m not going to sell… I’m going to give it away.”
Who is a missionary? A missionary is someone fully present where they are sent, yet always setting their heart on things above. And the truth is – this is all of us. We were raised with Christ. We are hidden with Christ. We will be revealed with Christ.
When his memory was failing, John Newton said, “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.” May we always remember who we are and who Christ is. May we set our hearts on things above, and live for eternity. Amen.
Revealed
Third, we will be revealed with Christ in glory (v. 4). Jesus Christ himself was hidden. He came to his own people, but they did not receive him. He was misunderstood, rejected, and crucified. But God raised him. And one day, he will come again in glory. The best is yet to come.
There is a story of an old missionary couple returning home after years of service in Africa. They had no pension; their health was broken; they were old now and afraid. On the same ship was President Theodore Roosevelt, returning from a hunting trip. When the ship arrived in New York, there was a great celebration for the president. A band, officials, crowds. But no one noticed the missionaries. They quietly went to a small apartment. That night, the missionary’s spirit broke. He poured out his heart to the Lord. He said, “Lord, I can’t take this. You are not treating us fairly. The President received this tremendous homecoming, but no one met us as we returned home.” But when he finished it, God simply said, “My son, you’re not home yet!”[2] That is our hope. One day, when Christ returns, we will be revealed with him in glory.
The Life of Adoniram Judson
This week I reread the biography of Adoniram Judson, the first American missionary sent to a foreign country. At age 25, he and his wife, Ann, age 23, went to Burma. They had three children there. All three died. The first was stillborn. The second lived 17 months. The third lived two years and died six months after her mother. And yet, they stayed.
For me, one of the most moving moments in his life is how he asked to marry Ann. Adoniram Judson knew he was going to Burma. So he wrote to Ann’s father. And he did not hide anything. He asked:
“Can you consent to part with your daughter… to see her no more in this world… Can you consent to her exposure to hardships… danger… suffering… and perhaps a violent death… for the sake of Him who left His heavenly home, and died for her and for you… and for the glory of God?”[3]Surprisingly, Ann’s father did something remarkable. He did not decide for her. He let her choose. After much prayer, Ann said “Yes.” She wrote to a friend:
“I have come to the determination to give up all my comforts and enjoyments here, sacrifice my affection to relatives and friends, and go where God, in his Providence, shall see fit to place me.[4]It took 6 years to baptize the first Burmese Christian. 12 years to see 18 converts. But, Adoniram Judson kept going. When he died, he left behind a Burmese Bible, over 100 churches, and more than 8,000 believers. He lived as a missionary, setting his heart on things above.
Missionary Mindset
This week, I also had the privilege of interviewing Brian Ketchum with the help of Diane. He worked hard and became successful. But later in life, he started what he called a “jelly mission.” He said, “I've spent my whole life trying to buy something for less than it was worth and then sell it for more than it was worth. I don’t want to do that anymore. From now on, I’m not going to sell… I’m going to give it away.”
Who is a missionary? A missionary is someone fully present where they are sent, yet always setting their heart on things above. And the truth is – this is all of us. We were raised with Christ. We are hidden with Christ. We will be revealed with Christ.
When his memory was failing, John Newton said, “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.” May we always remember who we are and who Christ is. May we set our hearts on things above, and live for eternity. Amen.
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