Two lenses of the Christian life

A devotional prepared for teens..
 
The Christian life could be viewed through two lenses. Both are helpful to consider. We talk about having been ‘saved’, but often don’t think through the consequences of that statement. Practically, what difference does being saved make in the Christian life? Consider these two lenses:
One lens considers the ‘from’. Leonard Ravenhill asks a question from this perspective…

“If I was to ask you today you were saved? Do you say, ‘Yes, I am saved’. When? ‘Oh so and so preached, I got baptized and…’ Are you saved? What are you saved from, hell? Are you saved from bitterness? Are you saved from lust? Are you saved from cheating? Are you saved from lying? Are you saved from bad manners? Are you saved from rebellion against your parents? Come on, what are you saved from?”

Another lens is the ‘to’ lens. What have you been saved to? Frustrated with the powerless ‘Christianity’ of his day, the late A.W Tozer said:

“Any objection to the carryings on of our present gold-calf Christianity is met with the triumphant reply, “But we are winning them!” And winning them to what? To true discipleship? To cross-carrying? To self-denial? To separation from the world? To crucifixion of the flesh? To holy living? To nobility of character? To a despising of the world’s treasures? To hard self-discipline? To love for God? To total committal to Christ? Of course the answer to all these questions is no.”

What practical difference has Christ made in your life? Consider today your life through the twin lenses, the ‘from’ and the ‘to’.