As we have listened to, or read, the various obituaries over these past weeks, months and even years, they should provoke us to ponder the questions – What is life really? What is the true purpose for living? How should we live the life God has given us? What will happen when it comes to an end?
These questions are rather thought-provoking, and the answers can be varied and quite interesting on an individual level. Nonetheless, we should take time out to think about them and answer them soberly. For only when we know the answers that we will begin to live our lives intentionally and not take them for granted.
Life is short and the older we get the shorter it will become. Hence it is incumbent upon us to live it well. In the biblical context, James does not give a definition of life but, rather, he expresses its brevity as that of a vapor that appears and then, just as quickly, vanishes (James 4:14). That is extremely sobering. James warned us of making future plans and leaving the Lord out of them; of making plans without realizing that we may not be around to complete them! Those are things we need to contemplate and heed as well.
Life is precious. It is a gift from God. He designed us to live with purpose. Having purpose gives us life and energy. If you take away someone’s purpose, all he or she has left is hopelessness and futility. Living with purpose is a fundamental element of God’s original design. Unfortunately, many people in the world try to find their purpose apart from God, but they can’t. The purpose of our lives is far greater than our own personal fulfillment, our peace of mind, or even our happiness. It is far greater than our families, our careers, or even our dreams and ambitions. If we want to know why we were placed on this earth, we must begin with God.
Is it not sad to see someone take a wonderful gift and mistreat it and waste it? Well, that is what we often times do when we don’t know life’s real value. We live our lives based on things of insignificant value and not on the things that really matter. We need to be aware that success is not purpose. Many people in the world are successful and have millions of dollars, but they live a miserable life because they have no purpose. Our purpose is to do God’s will and carry out His purpose. Therefore apart from Him, we can do nothing. We were created to know God, to love God, to worship God and then, as his agents, to extend his rule and his will into the world.
If we are not living within that purpose we are going to find some other kind of purpose in our life. So, what are you using your life for? What have you done that you believe in and are proud of? Are you happy? Do you have peace? Are you enjoying your life? What are the most important things in your life? Is God a part of your life? What position is He? You see, if the purpose is not God-centered, it ultimately is not going to satisfy. We will find ourselves still feeling empty on the inside, even though we are involved in doing good works, and accomplishing all our goals.
Psalms 90:10 reminds us: “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength, labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (KJV). “Seventy years are given to us! Some may even reach eighty. But even the best of these years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we are gone.” How are we preparing to go when our lives here would have come to an end?
John 10:10 admonishes us, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Jesus said, “My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” Are you living the life God intended you to live? Satan has succeeded in convincing too many of us that life is made up of things. But, without a relationship with God there is a void, a vacuum in life. The Bible says that our lives no longer belong to us because we have been purchased by the Lord to live according to His purpose.
God gave us a sobering reminder in Luke 12:15. He said, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” That is profound, my friend! Let us be always aware of that. Let us not be greedy for what we don’t have because real life is not measured by how much we own. Let it not be said of us, when our end comes, that we have lived a full life, a life filled to capacity with meaning and purpose, and pursuit and fulfilment, and satisfaction – yet we forgot God. That would be a wasted life my friend.
Death is not the end. It is the beginning of eternal life – one that never ends. Therefore, let us live with the end game in mind. Let us not live for only material personal possessions: money, land, houses, cars, clothes, pleasures – things we see, and touch, and feel, and experience – but for the spiritual as well. The spiritual realm is the greatest where we spend eternity with God. Tomorrow is the most uncertain, unpredictable friend we have, so let us make use of today – the present, and let our lives count for now and eternity. God has called us according to His purpose. He is calling us from a life of Wasted Years! Therefore, let us value life, and live it intentionally and with purpose.
God is working his purpose out, as year succeeds to year,
God is working his purpose out, and the time is drawing near;
Nearer and nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
As the waters cover the sea.
From utmost east to utmost west, wherever feet have trod,
By the mouth of many messengers goes forth the voice of God,
‘Give ear to me, ye continents, ye isles, give ear to me,
That the earth may be filled with the glory of God
As the waters cover the sea.’
What can we do to work God’s work, to prosper and increase
The love of God in all mankind, the reign of the Prince of peace?
What can we do to hasten the time, the time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
As the waters cover the sea?
March we forth in the strength of God, with the banner of Christ unfurled,
That the light of the glorious gospel of truth may shine throughout the world;
Fight we the fight with sorrow and sin, to set their captives free,
That the earth may be filled with the glory of God
As the waters cover the sea.
All we can do is nothing worth unless God blesses the deed;
Vainly we hope for the harvest-tide till God gives life to the seed;
Yet nearer and nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
As the waters cover the sea.
(Author: Arthur Campbell Ainger, 1894.)
About the Author: Mrs. Marilyn Hodge owns and operates the Wellness Centre in the Farrington, Anguilla. The Centre offers Counselling Services by Appointment Only and has now published Positive Living Volume 2. Contact information: 476-3517 or email:marilynb@anguillanet.com. www.facebook.com/axawellnesscentre.
