"This is the unshakable secret of the Lord to those who trust Him – "I will give thee thy life." What more does a man want than his life? It is the essential thing. "Thy life for a prey" means that wherever you may go, even if it is into hell, you will come out with your life, nothing can harm it. So many of us are caught up in the shows of things, not in the way of property and possessions, but of blessings. All these have to go; but there is something grander that never can go – the life that is "hid with Christ in God."
When I read this portion, it almost appeared as if believers should settle for "life", that is "Bios", the organic processes of existence.
Yet Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, lives and dwells in us. Yet Christ our life is consummate, eternal, never-ending, ever-creating "Zoe" life.
We must not be satisfied with our own life.
"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
"Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36-37)
Here, Jesus makes it very clear, our soul, our very being is more precious than the entire world!
Jesus later expands on this "sacrifice" that we make, losing our own lives for Him, and for HIs life!
"Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
"But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." (Mark 10:28-20)
Why would we want our life? I am more than happy to give up my lost life, that I may receive Christ's life, with all of its vitality, and all the blessings that flow from it! Christ is Life itself; why settle for anything less?
Here as in other passages, Chambers makes the mistake of applying Old Testament writings without filtering their power and their full import through the Finished Work of Jesus Christ.
On the Eve of the Babylonian Captivity, Jeremiah was setting affairs in order for the Promised return of His people to the Promised Land.
Yet this return is also a type and shadow for all humanity being reconciled to God, reconciled through His Son Jesus Christ, whose Life is far more than length of days.
It is very important when deriving proper teachings from the Bible that we rightly divide the Word of God. Let every Word, let every prophecy receive its full force through the Finished Work of Christ's death on the Cross!
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