The Core of a Righteous Life
If one idea could be used to express the idea of how we should live our life as righteous Christians, what would it be? Some may say to live every day as if it were your last. Some may say it is the golden rule. In my personal opinion the singular idea that can express how we should live as Christians is “Coram Deo”. What does it mean? Well, it is obviously a Latin phrase, let’s take a moment and dissect it.
- Coram (preposition which takes the ablative case) = in the presence of
- Deo (ablative of DEUS, as CORAM takes the ablative) = God
So the combined idea here is “in the presence of God”. I believe that if we understand and apply this one concept the rest falls into place; the golden rule, the commandments, everything. We are to live every moment of our life as though we are living in the presence of God (Coram Deo). Every thought, every action, every word said, every second of our existence must be lived in the presence of, under the authority of, and to the honor and glory of God. You cannot compartmentalize your life having one portion for the religious “God stuff”, and one portion for everything else. If you try to do this you are missing the entire point of being one of His chosen people. You either live your entire life and existence with God’s will and grace in sight, or you live none of it in His will or grace. Does this mean you’re not allowed to mess up? Not at all. He expects it and always has the exact portion of grace needed to cover it. You, however, are called to live a righteous and Godly life, period. You are not called to make everyone happy, have tons of friends, and live in a nice four bedroom in the suburbs. You are to be aware of the presence of God and also to be acutely aware of His sovereignty. He alone is God. Your friends are not God, your job or career is not God, your family and relatives are not God, but He does work through and in all those areas. Especially when you live your life in a pleasing and glorifying manner to Him.
Coram Deo means that if a person fulfills his or her vocation as a farmer, attorney, or homemaker coram Deo, then that person is acting every bit as righteously as an evangelist or pastor who fulfills his vocation.
To live all of life coram Deo is to live a life of integrity. It is a life of wholeness that finds its unity in the majesty of God. A fragmented life is marked by inconsistency, disharmony, confusion, conflict, contradiction, and chaos. God is not a God of chaos, but of order (1 Cor 14:33).
We are to consistently live the same life as if we are doing to before God himself (because we are). You should be the same person out of church that you are in church. Everything you do should be done as if you are doing it, not just in His presence, but for His glory and honor. We are to live a life of humility and principle under the constant guidance and teaching of the Holy Spirit.
Living life coram Deo makes all the trifles in our day-to-day life seem very insignificant and helps us rightly realize God’s love and compassion to have a real relationship with us. Be like Enoch and walk with God Coram Deo (Genesis 5:22,24).
I pray Shalom to you as you strive to live a Righteous Godly life Coram Deo.
