Christ said, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39). Eastern University’s Christian background has been affiliated with American Baptist Churches USA, but per their faith statement have a non-affiliated, inter-denominational doctrine. This doctrinal statement encourages students to lose their lives in Christ, and in so doing, truly find themselves.
Alluding to the gospel, the first belief in Eastern’s faith statement reads: “We believe that the Bible, composed of Old and New Testaments, is inspired by God and serves as the rule of faith and practice, being the authoritative witness to the truth of God embodied in Jesus Christ.” In order for you to lose your life, isn’t living for someone or something else the first step? The university’s first belief perfectly exemplifies this “someone else” in mentioning Jesus Christ. In order to lose our lives (only to fully and wonderfully regain them), we must hold fast to the author and perfector of our faith.
Losing our lives for Christ requires a deep and fervent understanding of our sinfulness. Or, losing our lives depends on a humble knowledge of our deserved place in hell. Once understood, our faith in Christ’s death and resurrection leads to truly finding ourselves, finding our identity wrapped in His love. As the popular Christian song “In Christ Alone” says, “For I am His and He is mine – Bought with the precious blood of Christ.”
As students at Eastern University, we are privileged to be in a community where such life loss is not only instructed but encouraged. How does Eastern encourage such behavior? Through weekly Wednesday morning chapels, Sunday and Wednesday night worship, and most importantly its excellent professors. But, unless supplemented with God’s Word, daily prayer, and personal devotion, these programs have students finding their lives, not losing them. Keep God’s Word first and losing your life (living for Him) will come naturally. Thankfully, our university is the perfect environment in which to do so! Have fun losing yourself in Christ!