Article: Sustainable Christian Life | Dr. Aju Thomas
A person who has accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour is considered as a Christian. He is expected to live a successful Christian life, not for that single day when he accepted Jesus as his savior, but throughout his life in this earth. If a person is able to live accordingly, his life is deemed as a sustainable Christian life. There may be ups and downs in his life, but even in those times, if he can steadily lead his spiritual life, he will be victorious.
Holy Bible reveals the ways a believer should follow in order to be successful in his spiritual life. Paul, the Apostle, when writing his letter to Timothy, mainly focuses on giving instructions to Timothy with the aim of helping him to lead a sustainable Christian life. As we are in this world, many hurdles will come in our ways to turn us away from the holy faith God has given us. Though Paul was writing letters to Timothy, those letters are written not only for Timothy, but to all the saints who live in this world till the second coming of Jesus. The instructions to lead a successful and sustainable Christian life are noteworthy in this regard as many believers are unable to lead a victorious spiritual life.
Two important thoughts associated with the concept of sustainable spiritual life are well explained in the second epistle written to Timothy. When the first point focuses on the importance of the word of God, the second one elucidates the need to kindle afresh the gift of God. “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”(2 Timothy 3:14,15). Timothy, from his infancy, learned the scriptures very well. Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to continue in what he learned from his infancy. The words “continue in” assume much interest when we think of sustainable Christian life. Like Timothy, we are also expected to ‘continue in” what we have learned from Holy Scriptures.
As believers, we are required to stir up the gift of God to live a victorious life. “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”(2 Timothy 1:5,6).Paul could understand the sincere faith demonstrated by Timothy and he is asked to kindle afresh the gift of God. As believers, we are also advised to keep ablaze the gift of God to lead a sustainable Christian life.
Sustainable spiritual life depends upon various factors and those factors can be summarized into two major points. Being saved is very important, but to continue in that experience is the most important factor to lead a successful, sustainable and victorious Christian life. For remaining in it, we are advised to live continually in what we learned from the word of God and kindle afresh the gift of God. Let us all examine ourselves to find whether we are leading a steady Christian life or not. May God enable us to lead a sustainable Christian life.
– Dr. Aju Thomas, Salalah
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