In Christ and In Airplanes

I always joke that I will write a book someday called, “It’s not about me”. Because if there is one main theme throughout my life, that is it. Sometimes it’s innocent, and sometimes it’s deliberate, but my focus always comes back to myself. And it always needs shifting back to Jesus.

As a kid, my mom would constantly remind me, “remember whose child you are.”
Yep, ok mom… I would respond, mentally or verbally, as I would run off with friends, to school, or into sports practice. The thought didn’t get a whole ton of extra attention.

But decades and a whole lot of my mom’s prayers later, and I’m finally starting to get it.

As believers, it’s a pretty big deal to consider “Christ in us”. The idea tends to get a lot of attention, and rightfully so – we should be amazed that the Spirit of the living God would make his home in us, that he would dwell within anyone who chooses to call upon the name of the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:19).

But for years, this was the basis of my identity as a believer, the single perspective of “Christ in me”. And I frequently found myself overwhelmed by the pressure. I tried so hard to “be good” and felt awful when I failed. I spent so much time focusing on what I should be doing, worrying about what other people thought of me and critiquing whether or not they could see the Christ that was in me. I didn’t spend nearly enough time focusing on what had been done for me.

I had already made a decision to follow Christ. Therefore, my identity in him was rock solid – not ever because of anything I had done or would do, but simply because of what had been done for me.

I was never actually the point, nor the one to collect the attention. Christ is “in me”, but maybe more importantly, I am “in him”.

This is where I am finding tremendous freedom.

I can hold up my hands in surrender so much sooner when I consider the fact that He has already got me. I can’t mess up his plans, I’m not dictated by what others think, and I can’t ruin someone’s path to salvation.

It’s not about living carelessly, nor is it about doing life however I want – that’s foolishness, and that’s sin. But it is about living freely. Because I am In Christ. So I can say yes to whatever he has for me, I can wait patiently whenever he calls me to wait, and I can say no wherever he tells me a job is not for me. Because he’s got me. And he’s not going to let go.

When his voice seems faint, I can walk in the wisdom he’s already given. And when his voice is loud but opposite my own plans for myself, I can walk in trust that he already has the details figured out.

If Christ is in me and I am in him, then I am sealed, inside and out.

In Christ, I am a child of God, a daughter of the King, bought at a price and adopted into His family. He chose me.

He chooses all his people. We don’t have to prove it with our performance, we don’t have to earn it with our right choices. And we don’t risk losing anything when we misread or misstep.

I heard an analogy once about being on an airplane. When you are in the plane, you go wherever the airplane goes. Whatever is true of the plane is true of you: if the plane is in the air, you are in the air; if the plane lands, you land; if the plane is in Africa, you are in Africa. And when we are in Christ, whatever is true of Him becomes true of us.

It’s mind-blowing. I find myself asking God all the time, “are you sure?”
To which he always responds, “Yes, I’m sure.”

I continue to be reminded, a bit too frequently, that my life isn’t about me, but as I’m reminded, I also learn to rest in the identity my Father has given me, the identity my mom always encouraged me to focus on. I am His child. Christ is in me, and I am in Christ. So I am secure. There is no one who is able to snatch me from his hand.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. – John 10:27

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? – 1 Corinthians 6:19

… but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus… – Romans 8:1

… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:39

… to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy… – 1 Corinthians 1:2

I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way… – 1 Corinthians 1:4-5

… you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God… – 1 Corinthians 1:30

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation – 2 Corinthians 5:17

In him we might become the righteousness of God. – 2 Corinthians 5:21

Read: Ephesians 1-2; Read it again and note each time it mentions “in Christ”. Make a list – what are things that are true of us when we are in Christ?

What does Jesus say about being “in him”?
John 14:17-20
John 15:1-17
John 16:33

Pray: Spend some time in prayer, thanking God for salvation, for Jesus, and for the abundance of blessing he so generously hands over to us.

If you haven’t made a decision to follow Christ and want to do so – you can pray something like this:

Lord, I want in. I want you to be my Father. I want to be welcomed into your family. I want to be in Christ. I’m sorry for my sins, sorry for the times I’ve done life my own way. I want that to change – I want to follow you. I trust you, Jesus, to cover my sins and to take over my life. Please lead me and guide me. Amen

There is nothing magic in the words, but there is absolutely something supernatural in the repentance of heart and surrender to the Savior, the lover of our souls.

I write to teach and to share the little bit of all I know and am learning, and I would be so happy to answer any questions, pray or provide support however possible. Contact me if there is anything I can do!

Sing: The Rock Won’t Move, Vertical Worship – This has been one of my favorite songs for a while. I play it on repeat and blast it in the car. “The rock won’t move”, and we are in the rock. He has such a fierce and unshakeable grip on us.

Additional Resource: This podcast is packed – Knowing Faith, #36 – A Lesson in Pronouns: The Doctrine of Union with Christ