THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT
By: Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr.
Colossians 2: 6 – 7 “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Paul says, since you have received Jesus, live him. You have established your faith, now do what you’ve been taught. In other words you have studied long enough, it is time to start living your faith. And by the way, let your living spill over into thanksgiving.
Paul wants the Colossians, and us, to stop resting on our conversion and start developing some conviction, some sincerity and some passion for the cause of Christ.
Conversion is good, but conviction is better. Conviction is a more complete possession of our Savior, which means we live in constant contact with Christ.
Paul wants the Colossians, and us, to stop resting on our conversion and start developing some conviction, some sincerity and some passion for the cause of Christ. Conversion is good, but conviction is better. Conviction is a more complete possession of our Savior, which means we live in constant contact with Christ.
Paul is obviously speaking to folk who know the Lord. Paul says, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord.” It is clear he is speaking to all those who have confessed Christ as their Lord and Savior, and have decided to follow Jesus.
Paul wants the Colossians, and us, to stop resting on our conversion and start developing some conviction, some sincerity and some passion for the cause of Christ. Conversion is good, but conviction is better. Conviction is a more complete possession of our Savior, which means we live in constant contact with Christ.
If we have received Christ, we’ve got to “walk in Him.” Simply stated, if we claim to be a child of God, we cannot just talk the talk, we’ve got to walk the walk. We love to sing, “When we all get to heaven”, but it’s not just about the destination; it’s about the direction. The truth of the matter is, there are plenty of paths to take but, not all are the right path to take. Once we are converted, every precious step we take with Christ is one of revelation and fulfillment. Our relationship with Christ is all about “lifestyle”, to choose the correct lifestyle, our heart has to do the walking.
If we have received Christ, we must be “rooted in Him.” Those of us who have received the Lord Jesus Christ should want to grow in Christ. We have to be grounded in Christ. We cannot be like a bunch of cut flowers; beautiful to look at, but unable to sustain any spiritual life because we are cut off from the root, which is the body of Christ. If we want to make progress in our Christian journey, our faith is only as good as our roots. As we learn and grow in Christ, our life becomes more and more a reflection of the image of Christ.
Finally, Paul says, if we have received Christ, we’ve got to be “built on Him.” Our journey represents a continual process. We are under construction, a building that is never finished. Whether our building is a mansion or a mess, we are building on a firm foundation, being “built up in Christ.” No greater foundation can be laid than that which is laid in Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our foundation. If we begin with Christ, every other faith brick we lay will be right with Christ. If we start out right, we will end up right.
The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the pastor of James Chapel AME Church in Charleston, SC.
