By Pastor Chad
Over the last two weeks, we have focused on John 15:1-11. There we find Jesus giving a teaching on abiding in Him. He tells His disciples, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (15:4). If we are going to have a fruitful, thriving life, we must remain in Christ. We must be connected to Him, and let His grace empower us to live as He has commanded us to live.
In the first nine verses of chapter 15, Jesus consistently and repeatedly encourages His disciples to abide and bear fruit. The question remains, however, how does one abide? If it is so important, it is necessary that one knows how to do it. Jesus focuses more on the sales pitch in verses one through nine then gives the answer to that question in verse ten. He says, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love…” That’s it! That’s how we abide. The answer to this question is simple: To abide in Christ one must obey His commandments. Though the answer may be simple, I’m not claiming the process is easy. Jesus claims that abiding in Him requires obedience to His commands. That may seem like a heavy burden is being placed upon us. In order for us to have a joyous, thriving life, we must obey Jesus? What about personal autonomy? What about the freedom to do what we want? What about my rights? Perhaps a thought experiment may help.
Imagine you are climbing Mount Everest. To complete this climb, you cannot do it on your own. The climb is too hard and dangerous to undertake without a guide. So you hire an experienced sherpa to guide you up the mountain. As you begin the climb, your guide is very direct and pointed: “Look, this mountain is no playground. Many have died attempting to do what you are about to do. Many have been injured or lost. If you want to make it up this mountain, you must listen to my guidance and direction. Step where I tell you to step. Walk where I tell you to walk. Climb where I tell you to climb. Eat what I tell you to eat. Rest where I tell you to rest. Any deviation whatsoever could lead to injury, failure, or death. Am I clear?” Understanding the severity of the situation, you readily comply. Why do you comply? You comply because you understand that in order to be successful in your endeavor, you must follow the one that knows how to get you to the top.
Life is a spiritual journey. There are many dangers and traps that can trip you up. To be successful in this journey, you must follow the one who has already trodden the path. You must follow the one who has made a way. Jesus’ commands are not meant to hold us back or hinder our life. They are not meant to stifle our joy or disrupt our success. The commands of Christ are meant for our good. They are meant for our success. And all who abide in them will not only succeed in this life, but will also succeed in the next.