It's time for a little honesty.
If you've spent any time on social media sites as of late, I'm sure that you've noticed the plethora of posts about free speech and freedom of religion. If so, then you've also seen many pages with lists of things to do before you get married, and responses with "better" ideas, plans, and dreams. I've read political pieces about the economics of our country and world. Many authors put their talent to use and right about the things that they really care about, while others respond in anger and ill-spoken language. We are a society that speaks most often in rash statements, selfish words, untimely replies, and overall bitterness. What does this say about our world's focus and goals in life? You can fill in the blanks.
Even in the church, we have been overtaken by similar feelings and reactions. We're worried about the state of our world and country. We talk about holding on to our constitutional rights as Americans, and take action when they are compromised. We write about our plans, ideas, and dreams for what we want to do. We talk about little things that don't really matter in the long run, but are fun to argue about every once in a while.
Is this wrong? Not necessarily.
Is there more? Yes!
At the end of his life, the apostle Paul wrote a final letter to his young son in the faith, Timothy. These were his last words calling Timothy and all believers who followed after to live for the Gospel and strive for godliness. If anyone would have a perspective on life, it would be Paul, and Scripture affirms this fact. He said,
"I have fought the good fight,
I have finished the race,
I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me on that Day,
and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing"
What a novel idea! Here's a man in prison at the end of his life facing certain death. He's not claiming rights or innocence. He's calling for higher living.
Living for Christ isn't easy and Paul would be the first to tell anyone that. He even made a list of all the persecutions and terrible things that he faced to encourage the Corinthian church that God's grace is sufficient for everything! For Paul, life wasn't about fighting for freedom; he lived in the freedom of Christ. He didn't make plans for retirement on the beach; he knew that to "live is Christ, and to die is gain..."
Good Fight, Good Race
As I was thinking about this, I thought, what would I say as my last words to my best friend? Would I thank them for being such an encouragement in my life? Would I thank God for His blessings. Would I tell my last wishes? I don't have an answer yet, but I don't think I'd talk about the fight it was to live!
Reality check.
Paul fought the good fight. He lived for one purpose: to glorify Christ by spreading the gospel of grace. Paul ran the race of life well. It started on the road to Damascus and spread on from there till the day he died. Once his life was captured by the mercy and grace of God, he lived for something better and bigger and more glorious. He kept the faith that was entrusted to him. There was nothing that he had to do to keep himself in God's "good graces". He recognized and repeated over and over that the gospel was given to him by God, and he was a steward of that ministry. He was faithful.
And his hope? Though not sunk in a bank account or person or job, he was assured of the hope of heaven through the resurrection of Jesus Christ! His hope was the righteousness of God finally and fully being realized through the completion of his sanctification in Jesus Christ.
What of the crown? Isn't that worth something? Yes, it's the testimony of God's strength in his life to live a life that pleased God. It is just one thing to receive humbly, then cast back at the feet of the Great I AM.
Life Well Lived
I get tired of seeing so many people live for so little. It's one thing to expect it from the masses, but when you see your brothers and sisters in Christ doing the same thing, it's pitiful!
We've become comfortable with the way that our world exists. Romans 1 is playing out, and we watch it happen from our arm chairs, blessing the fact that we've been saved from the fires of hell. We're comfortable letting sinful thought patterns take root in our minds. We take human philosophy, tie a pretty bow around it, and say that nothing's wrong. We compromise the truth for what sounds better and more politically correct. We are more willing to listen to what rich men and women have to say, than what God has said in His word.
Something's wrong!
We live for so little if we do not live every breath of life for the God who made us, saved us, works in and through us, and rules over all things. We live for nothing if we are not pursuing godliness for the glory of God. We live for nothing if our hearts are constantly being pulled away from loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind, to bow to this idol and that addiction. We have no goal in life if we don't love God first and then the people around us. We have no purpose in life, if we live for ourselves.
Life is a gift. Each breath you take and step you walk is God's mercy. We are nothing apart from God's sustaining hand holding us together.
Live for more; live for Christ.
Life is nothing if not lived for the glory of God through the gospel.
