My Favorite Word: With…

Prepositions help us understand the story of God and us. I’ve already written about two other prepositions, through and in [Christ]. Now my favorite preposition of all, with.

With for me has a warm feeling. It’s sharing. Partnership. It’s togetherness. It’s not being alone. And a lot more. I love the musical The Phantom of the Opera. One song stands out, a promise of “withness” between a couple in love. With a little imagination this song could be a prayer, a conversation with Jesus. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/SE1T0lS_Zzo

Jesus is Imma-nu-El, literally With-us-God. But before he was With us he was With God (John 1:1-3, John 17:23). At its essence the cosmos is interlaced by the “Withness” of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Now take a deep breath. This “Withness” extends to us. Our triune God holds and sustains the universe by his “togetherness.”

“Withs” that’ll blow you away. O how much does God wants to share his life! 

·      When we were dead in our sins… He made us alive With Christ (Ephesians 2:5). He forgave our sins in Jesus’ name. Even more we are With Christ at home, at work, on the road, in our church community. He is our common life!

·      I’ve been crucified With Christ and I live in him. My broken life, my sorrows and sufferings are absorbed into his (Col 3:1-4). Jesus anticipated the pains and joys of life and promised to share them With us.

·      I’ve been raised With Christ (Col 3:1-4). Jesus looked ahead and made provision that we could still live With him, despite our sorrows.

·      And this: Hidden With Christ in God. Ah Christ is the safety our souls have so long craved. The scarcity we think have is an illusion. We lack nothing. All fears we have can be dropped off at his feet. “Scrambled eggs and bacon while those enemies watch? I’m on it!” he promised.

·      One day what is hidden will appear. What causes us fear now? Death, hopelessness, sickness, broken relationships and more. Hearts will be mended. We can’t see it now, but when he appears, we will appear with him the glorious beings we were meant to be. Our treasure is Christ and what he is hiding now for us and from us one day will be made visible. You will be stunned by the beauty and glory of it all, I promise!

·      In Romans 8 Paul says we will inherit all that Christ has inherited. Co-heirs With Christ. We perhaps were born to the wrong poor parents. But wait, we have inherited more grace than we can spend in Christ.

·      This is no ordinary inheritance. It’s incorruptible, undefiled, unfading, and reserved for us! (1 Peter 1:3-4). It’s an earnest first installment, a taste of the coming fullness, with benefits like healing, wholeness, and peace available now. We have inherited the absence of fear, authority and victory over evil. Let’s not wait till we get to heaven to enjoy all which Jesus died for us to obtain. In Him heaven and earth are joined.

·      If that’s not enough “Withness” we get to “reign With Christ.” Kings and queens with Christ over all creation! “However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" -- the things God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

What a soul-feast these realities the preposition With allows us to know. We walk not alone. … “And lo I am With you always, even to the end of the age.”