I Don't Want To Waste My Life

Today at church, we watched a video taped interview of 4 members in our church who were making a positive difference in people's lives with their lives. First of all, I was inspired and touched by their examples. They were giving of themselves. Their lives were bearing fruit. Secondly, I realized how much I want to follow in their footsteps and the footsteps of many other followers of Christ. Then I imagined my life consisting of just going through the motions and not thinking about ministering Christ's love and compassion to others. I became very sorrowful at the thought of a life that could have been lived for the good of others yet had not. What a waste that would be! We only have one life to live.

What a shame to keep ones life to oneself. What a tragedy to come to the end of life not having made a positive difference in the lives of others--Love that was never shared; compassion that was never shown; comfort that was never given. To stand before the Lord who asks, "what did you do with the talents I gave you" and have no other answer but "nothing" is unbearable.

We must continually remind ourselves that we were put here with a purpose--not to live for ourselves, but for Jesus, and to serve others. And in doing so, to lay up for ourselves a foundation for the life to come.

Do something good

How should I be different?

How should Christians be different in this world? I read this over the weekend in Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

When I read this, I said to myself, "that's pretty simple: faith, love and hope." If I envision a person who is ruled by these three, I see a peaceful, content person, one who radiates a quiet, humble joy, whose words are pleasant and full of grace. Such a life is not complicated to imagine. Yet it is so different from the typical life lived apart from Christ. It seems the "way of the world" is filled with striving, discontentment, bitterness, hardness, skepticism, self-centeredness and meaninglessness. I know as a follower of Jesus, I'm am called out of this type of life to the life ruled by faith, love and hope.

I must always remind myself of this and return to these basics of Christian life when I stray into the "way of the world." I can not get caught up in the worries and desires of this life such that it chokes out the way of peace. I must be different. My heart tells me that. It is what it means to be holy. I must not waste my life living like those who have no hope. I feel ashamed when I do. Reminder to myself: I do not belong to the darkness but the light. I am created and have been redeemed to live eternally in God's presence. Why act otherwise?

His grace is sufficient in our weakness. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice!