Life has this divine quality of forcing one to take stock of one's own accomplishments. Literally, figuring out – in our finite minds – just how we measure up in the grand scheme of things. For most young adults they feel the need to venture off into the academic world to fulfill their "greater purpose." Others, take the bold step of being entrepreneurs. Yet, no matter the level of success that is gained by any means, we still seek. It is as if something deep within cries out that in all this "self-fulfillment" we are emptier than ever before. Our lives have no purpose, no direction for which to aim. We set goals and limits upon our lives, and at the end of days those are not the victories or regrets that we go over in our minds. Instead, we play out all of the times we could have been with our families, all of the love we wish we could have shown. We think of the laughter . . . of the tears . . . and we wonder just what we have left behind. Perhaps there is something to the saying: "It is only in death that we see how to live."
For a Christian, death is a dual purpose experience. If we have truly trusted in Jesus Christ for our salvation we are gifted with eternal life: passing from this death unto his life. Yet, the moment of death is a time when even God declares that we should set our house in order. [Isa. 38:1] This can be a horrifying experience when we realize how many things we have left undone. It is then that we are forced to realize that we are not on this earth for ourselves, but rather are come to do the will of our Father and Saviour Jesus Christ. We are not placed here for the purpose of going to college, or for starting a business, or for anything else that might benefit the flesh. We are here for the sole purpose of glorifying the Lord Jesus. Paul told us that "all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God." (II Cor. 4:15)
This message isn't often preached from the pulpits of modern churches. Somewhere along the line we derailed from the fact that we are to be different from this world . . . in everything. We are to talk different, walk different, dress different. If they do it, we do it different. This sounds extreme I know, but if you think of it, God is a bit extreme. He is the one that set our rules, he is the Creator/God that demands we be holy, for the simple fact that he is holy. In a world so predominated by those that thrive on being extreme and then are glorified for being so, it seems ironic to me that if a Christian follows God with everything they can muster, they are not heralded as "all-or-nothing-living-for-God" person, but rather they are the bad side of extreme. Interesting isn't it? Good seems to be called evil and evil is called good. [Isa. 5:20]
Just something to think about. |
