I Prefer Christ

Drive through any American city and read the signs in front of Churches. You will find that many of the signs focus on the benefit of being a Christian. Want a better life? Join a Church. Want to find peace after suffering trauma? Join a Church. Want to have healing from your addiction? Join a Church. There is only one problem. Joining a Church is not about this life. It is about the next life.

While it may be true that being a Christian will bring you a more peaceful life, it is not a guarantee. We know this merely from reading the lives of the saints in the daily calendar. Nobody could argue the saints were not committed members of the Church. Yet, still they were chased, beaten, mocked, exiled and some were evil killed. There has got to be more to the story.

Brethren, if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied.

1^st Corinthians 15.12-19

Today’s message from Saint Paul is clear. Our faith in Christ is not about this life. It is about our life with Christ AFTER we die. If all we are seeking is a better life now, we are deserving of pity. Nobody wants pity. We want peace and hope.

Be Transfigured Ministries is committed to helping believers live a NEW life in Christ. That life is here on Earth AND in Heaven. Our time now is to be spent preparing our heart and soul for what is to come. Are we tormented in this life? We hope for peace in Heaven. Do we suffer hunger here on Earth? We hope to be filled with Christ and the Holy Spirit in Heaven.

The focus on this life is my main complaint against the so-called prosperity gospel. Christ didn’t say, “All who believe will be rich and comfortable.” Christ said, “He who loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8.35) Christ did not say, “Believe and nothing will hurt you.” He said, “But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” (Matthew 5.39)

When we invite you to Live A New Life In Christ, we are not urging you to focus on THIS life. Quite to the contrary. Be Transfigured Ministries is about rededicating this life to preparing for the next. Like it or not, we all will be judged by God. Like it or not, we will all spend eternity with Him.

Quite frankly, I’m glad it isn’t all about this life. This life can be humdrum. This life can be awkward for anyone not committed to the selfish drive that makes the world go around. If it is all about this life, then this life is totally in vain.

I prefer hoping for the next. I prefer hoping for the resurrection. I prefer Christ.