Check Yourself

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"- 2 Corinthians 13.5

"And you, who were once alienated and hostile in mind, dong evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you have heard..."- Colossians 1.21-23

Lately I've been wrestling with the idea of the Old and New Covenant. The premise of covenant itself is quite simple, but the relation between the Old and New is something else entirely. But one aspect of the New Covenant is that we, as sinners, formally alienated from God because of our sin, can be reconciled with him, or brought into a better relationship with him.

In the Colossians text we can see that by continuing in the faith, we remain reconciled to God. But what does it mean to "remain in the faith?" That's a good question. I think the verse from 2 Corinthians helps us understand that. We need to test ourselves, make sure that we still have relation with Jesus. What is our relation marked by though? Well what is any relation marked by?

Being "Facebook Official." Talking every day. Seeing each other. Sharing with each other. Sacrificing for each other.

Looking at the end of the Gospel accounts we can see how Christ sacrificed for us.
Looking at our Facebook we can see our religious preference is set to "Christian."
But what abut talking? Do you honestly talk to Jesus every day? Do you have faith that he's listening?
Do you strive to see God on a daily basis? Do you see how he pours himself into the sunset that words can never do justice for?
Do you share with your Father the concerns, needs, joys and hopes that you have in your life?
Do you sacrifice anything for your relationship and faith? Do you sacrifice time to just spend it in the Word?
What about your reputation to pray over your meal thanking God for providing?
Do you ever even look at yourself, and put yourself to the test seeing what it is that Christ calls you to and if you fulfill that calling?

Examine yourself, and remain in the faith.