Christian Hedonism

"My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection..." (Phil. 3:10, HCSB).   "Wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt. 6:21, NIV).  "You made us for yourself, and our hearts find no peace until they rest in you."  --Saint Augustine of Hippo, Confessions   "There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which only God can fill through His Son, Jesus Christ." --Blaise Pascal  "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and not tried." --Chesterton

Usually, the term hedonist refers to Epicurean philosophy or the naked pursuit of pleasure for its own sake (e.g., "eat, drink and be merry...").   I am following John Piper's lead in applying this to our walk with Christ.  Christ did promise a "more abundant life" (cf. John 10:10)!  Some believers may miss the boat chasing pipedreams or fantasies, even what the world has to offer with all the devil's enticements, not to mention crutches such as supernaturalism, escapism, cynicism, and humanism.  However, the more room for Satan entails that we open the door to our enemy the less room there is for God to fill this void  (e.g., 1 John 2:15, NIV: "Do not love the world or anything in the world...").  There is joy in living for Christ and joy doesn't depend on happenings like happiness does, but cannot be taken away just like our attitude.  Paul commanded in Philippians 4:4 to "rejoice always."  The point is that we will not always get everything we want, but what we need (not so-called "felt-needs").  He knows our needs!

Fulfillment is not in the abundance of our possessions or how many toys we end up with but in the "fewness of our wants!"  God knows us better than we do and is a primary concern is not our happiness, but using us for His glory and will. Jesus said that our "life doesn't consist in the abundance of [our] possessions."  Habakkuk 3:18, HCSB, says:  "[Y]et I will triumph in Yahweh; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!" [though he virtually lost everything but God!].  The most satisfying life is one lived for Christ and fulfilling one's calling with one's spiritual gifts.  "For you need endurance, so that after you have done God's will, you may receive what was promised" (Heb. 10:36, HCSB).  God will reward us with a heritage:  "I am your shield; your reward will be very great" [or "I am your reward"]  (Gen. 15:1, HCSB)

Some believers see our walk as of walking around on Cloud Nine or Seventh Heaven or on some perpetual religious high, however, eventually God will test our faith, bringing us down to earth.  It's easy to have faith if one is always high, but "God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart [his motives]" (2 Chron. 32:31, NLT).   We are not called to wear our religion on our sleeves nor to parade and flaunt our faith (nor to privatize it either though--per Daniel's example!).  Character is only built through adversity and trial, not spiritual feelings. We can learn to rise above our feelings and be equal to the challenge!   God is more pleased with faith than feeling anyway (cf. Heb. 11:6).  We must learn to walk by faith (cf. 2 Cor. 5:7) than by our feelings which need not to be confused with facts.  The point of feelings is that they follow they don't lead (first comes fact, then faith, then obedience, then feelings).  Pascal pondered:  "If man is not made for God, why is he happy only in God?  If man is made for God, why is he opposed to God?"

The devil likes to catch us on a spiritual high as well as when we are depressed or brood. He knows our weaknesses and vulnerabilities.  "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation," according to Henry David Thoreau.  Carl Gustav Jung said, "The central neurosis of our time is emptiness...."  Depression or the doldrums aren't necessarily bad but a natural course when God is speaking to us and we need to heed His Word--don't go by feelings!  We note the "downcast" spirit in several psalms:  Psalms 42, 43, and 143, not to mention Nehemiah.  Often people don't know the reason or what is going on spiritually.  Anyone can experience a depressed funk and show one has feelings and it is a pity some have none!  It shows something is wrong and we need to do some soul searching--it's a warning sign or even an omen!  Note that when we are at our weakest Satan will tempt us and we should not "ignorant of his schemes" (2 Cor. 2:11, HCSB).  Sometimes it's good to feel not so good because we realize something is amiss or God is speaking to us.  We all experience trials, troubles, affliction, and adversity and it comes with the territory; but the Chrisitan life is not hard, it's impossible!  We can only live it by God's indwelling power, not the energy of the flesh. We have the power to live in the Spirit!

And in conclusion, Christians seek joy in the Lord and contentment (cf. Phil. 4:13) rather than satisfaction of every whim or fantasy and basic happiness.  Those who chase fantasies are fools. Christians have dignity, purpose, and meaning in life that the secular worldviews cannot offer! We don't live for the hear and now or short term like secularists but in light of eternity; however, one day at a time (cf. Psa. 118:24)!  We're not pleasure-seekers but have learned to find it in God!  We have a different outlook on crisis and adversity:  we see opportunity and possibility in them and room for growth in our walk--that's why no one can steal our attitude!   And the answer to the question, "What's your pleasure?" is to please God doing His will of service with a smile, or practicing and applying everyday, practical holiness!   Soli Deo Gloria!

Do You Want To Have The Power?

"The greatness of a man's power is in the measure of his surrender." --William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army
"One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard:  'Power belongs to you, God'" (Psalm 62:11, NIV).
"His wisdom is profound, his power is vast..." (Job 9:4, NIV).
NB:  As Daniel 2:20, NIV, says, "... wisdom and power are his" so we must distinguish but never separate these two:  wisdom without power is pathetic; power without wisdom is frightening!  
"[H]aving a form of godliness but denying its power.  Have nothing to do with such people" (2 Tim. 3:5, NIV).  ALL EMPHASIS MINE.

Power is different strokes for different folks, as they say!  To some, it's knowledge or expertise (for even Sir Francis Bacon said, reiterating Prov. 24:5, "Knowledge is power").  Knowledge, falsely-so-called, sure isn't though!  To some it's money if they had the money they'd know how to use it to change the world; i.e., enough money.  To some, it's the power of music, all genres, or rather the power music holds over them--to arouse emotion, to relax, to put in a mood.  To others, the only power that counts is political or what can be exerted in an authoritarian or despotic manner to deny people their basic rights, liberty, and justice.

Sometimes husbands abuse their wives in the name of power or employees exploit workers.  Some religious extremists hijack their faith and do evil in its name; i.e., ISIS and the Taliban.  To religious fanatics (and even Christians were once guilty), they use power to force conversion in some cases or convert through a program of meditations, horoscopes, palm reading, yoga, TM, or other religious rituals and exercises.

To Christians though, power is knowing the Lord and being filled with the Spirit, to know Christ and the power of His resurrection (cf. Phil. 3:10).  There is even power to change our personalities!  Jesus said that the power would descend on us to evangelize the world and we cannot do this in our own power but must learn to abide in Christ.  The thing about our power is that it doesn't come from a force, but a person who loves us--a personality.  Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi wouldn't tell Luke Skywalker that the Force loves him!  A Force cannot love!   Remember, that force had a dark side; yet God is light and in Him is no darkness.  Yet tapping into this love is great power--we overcome evil with good and love is stronger than hate.  And this is what's available to all believers if they submit to the Lord and be filled.  There is so much untapped power out their from believers who haven't learned to avail themselves of God's power in the Spirit.

Today, we must beware of unchecked political power and the drive and lust to achieve it.  As Lord Acton's adage says:  "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely."  Plutarch also wondered:  "Who shall govern the governor?"   (Power can go to one's head!)  The divine right of kings is not unlimited, but to be checked by the courts and under a system of laws and a constitution to be moral.  The thing about power in all secular forms: it never satisfied but only gives an appetite for more power.  Only as believers in Christ can we be content to know the transforming power of God in our life and it's energy to overcome spiritual inertia.  Once you've experienced it, you want to pass it on and share it with others.  The world can never know this contentment and inner joy.   

Finally, as believers, we are transferred several things upon salvation:  peace of God, in our lives as well as peace with God; pardon from all our sins--past, present, and future; purpose for living as we devote our lives to God's kingdom, will, and glory; and also the power to change because Jesus is in the business of changing lives, and overcome sin, which is so dramatic it's a transformation or miracle in itself. 

CAVEAT:  IT WON'T ALL COME AT ONCE, THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT MUST BE GROWN AND WE MUST LEARN TO AVAIL OURSELVES OF THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN DOING GOD'S WILL.                 Soli Deo Gloria!

Living The Good Life--Life To The Full!

"Who knows but that you have come to a royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14, NIV).
"And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:11-12, ESV). 
"In him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4, ESV).
"Thou madest us for Thyself, and our heart is restless until it rests in Thee."--Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo (Confessions)
NB:  Aristotle, the philosopher, in his book Nicomachean Ethics, laid down the precepts of living the "good life" by the pursuance of virtuous living, describing a life of flourishing and happiness.  

There was once a front-page article in Time magazine all about Sen. Wendell Anderson, former governor, and now appointing himself the senator from Minnesota, demonstrating on the cover with a picture of the so-called "good life in Minnesota" (with him fishing on one of its lakes in a boat!).  People often confuse the so-called good life with someplace to inherit or migrate to and not as a frame of mind or mindset.  

People try to find the good life, life to the max as if it's geographical. People over-spiritualize Scripture and claim we should conquer our personal promised land and take what's ours by virtue of being saved and righteous.  Prosperity theology is fallacious and leads many astray who focus on this life and store up treasures in the here and now, which they tend to keep their eyes on, instead of looking to Jesus (cf. Heb. 12:2).

God does indeed promise to prosper us, but not always in a financial sense, it is erroneous to translate spirituality into riches or to think that godliness is a means of financial gain or advantage.  We will indeed prosper, but according to God's plan and will and whatever we do in His name to His glory (all our godly endeavors).  Jesus promised a more abundant or fulfilling and meaningful life in Christ and this is the eternal life that begins in quality upon salvation.  None can claim that serving God is futile and God doesn't reward us and make it worth our time to invest in spiritual matters.

Part of living a fulfilling and rewarding life is having an impact and making a difference--we do this by finding out our talents and spiritual gifting and being faithful--God is more interested in this than in success, which is up to Him, not us. This can make us feel good about ourselves and we become contagious believers.  One of the greatest achievements and most rewarding applause we can get is that we have had an influence on someone for the better according to God's will and glory. 

Be sure that you seek the approbation of God, not man, though!  We are indeed the hands, feet, heart, and voice of God to a spiritually depraved and deprived world.  We must realize our potential to be actualized or commissioned, and that means knowing like Esther that we were "born for such a time as this" (cf. Es. 4:14).

Opportunity is always knocking and we only need to heed the call.  We become more human by realizing our potential, and everyone has unrealized potential as well as realized potential.  Most of us are not what we have the capability and capacity of becoming in Christ.  Remember, we are here for a reason, to glorify God (cf. Is. 43:7).  Yes, we have the destiny to fulfill and God has a plan already for us to realize if we cooperate, we don't want to settle for second best or have regrets for what could've been and mourn over lost opportunities.  When we have the right mindset and worldview we see meaning and learn to see a purpose in life, which is more than the mere setting of goals, for purposes sound a note that reverberates into eternity and will even outlast our vocation or hobbies.

Part of being content in life is knowing our value to others or that we are important and fulfill a need that others can't do--that we have a unique purpose and calling from God.  We also long to have an impact and know we are accomplishing something and our labor is not in vain in the Lord (cf. 1 Cor. 15:58), but God is not unjust so as not to reward it and bless our efforts done in His name.  Part of our fulfillment also comes in knowing who we are in the Lord--are we just everyone's servant or did God grant us some domain to serve Him in and be responsible for?

We must be willing to be a servant, and in God's economy, the way up is down!  But God gives us prerogatives, rights, and duties to fulfill also and we must seize the day and redeem the time for the Lord and make the most of every opportunity He grants.  We all have talents, skills, energy, relationships, gifts, resources, opportunities, assets, dignity, authority, and general makeup and attributes to use for God's glory and we must do it faithfully in His name, i.e., according to His will, not our personal agenda.

The fulfilled believer knows his orthopraxy or ethics and knows how to be a good Samaritan and good neighbor to those in need in his orbit or circle of friends.  This is where Micah 6:8, ESV, comes into play:  "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"  We must not only know the Word and the Author but learn to apply it and be doers of the Word, translating creeds into deeds!  Christianity isn't just pie in the sky!  Nor is it just walking around on Cloud Nine, nor is it a secluded or monastic-styled virtue, separated from the real world--for we are to be in it, but just not of it, being the salt and light.

The good life consists of having the peace of knowing we are secure in our destiny and salvation in Christ and no one can take this away--not even ourselves! Don't divorce salvation from security in it!  Our walk with the Lord is not just a list of dos and don'ts, nor a catalog of rules, collection of spiritual platitudes, nor a manual of mystical ideas, nor does God exist to grant us religious experiences or highs, au contraire, we are to be real, not necessarily will we be ideal though!

The peace Jesus gives as His legacy cannot be forfeited, and it can only be known because of the finished work of Christ on the cross!  "And the peace of God, that surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6, ESV).  With this peace, we can be content in every circumstance, and even give thanks and rejoice always in the Lord!   

In sum, we can only get the most out of life with Christ in it--things go better with the Lord in the equation!  SHALOM!    Soli Deo Gloria! 

Things Go Better With Jesus

"The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever."--John Piper's rendition of the tradition in the Westminster Shorter Catechism
"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings..." (Romans 5:3, NIV).
"... [T]hrough many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22, ESV).
"If I were to ask you why you have believed in Christ, why you have become Christians, every man will answer truly, 'For the sake of happiness.'"--Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo

Jesus did indeed promise life to the fullest  (to the max), but not in the way the world would interpret it.  Some have imagined it as a book has been written, Your Best Life Now, but this is short-sighted and misses the mark to which we are called--it has been granted unto us that we suffer for His name sake (cf. Phil. 1:29).  Suffering is our badge of honor and he who best can suffer best can do.  Jesus promised that we could have a life and life more abundant if we seek first the kingdom of heaven "all these things will be added" unto us according to Matt. 6:33.

Some say that all they want in life is to be happy, and Blaise Pascal said this is not unreasonable for anyone to seek ("All men seek happiness"), but we cannot be happy nor fulfilled out of the will of God or if we miss our calling.  John Piper writes of Christian hedonism and this is true when one lives his life according to the way it was meant, not fighting God's will but getting with the program and learning to give Him the glory, seeking joy in the Lord. When we learn we are designed for worshiping God we will find our joy in the Lord in so doing.  Indeed, "for the joy of the LORD is [our] strength" (cf. Neh. 8:10, NIV) and we are to rejoice always.  When our eyes are properly focused on Christ and not on ourselves, things look cheerful and joyful.

The big difference in Christians though is that their happiness isn't selfish nor focused in this life, but looks to eternity and not the here and now or the secular.  The world seeks its fulfillment in education, the standard of living, liberty and even the American way or in achieving the so-called American dream.  But true fulfillment only resides in knowing Christ and having a living relationship with Him.  The Christian life is not Jesus plus TM or Jesus plus yoga, and so forth, but merely:  Jesus in us!  We don't add Jesus to our life like some additive, but seek a substituted, exchanged, surrendered, and relinquished life in Him as Lord of our lives because He owns us.

We are designed for worship (as Dostoevsky said that if we don't worship God we'll worship something or someone else because we are made to worship), and bringing God glory and nothing else will fill the void but God, as Augustine said, "You make us for Yourself, and our hearts find no peace until they rest in You."  Blaise Pascal said that there is a vacuum or God-shaped blank in us that only God can fill.

Too many people want to add Jesus to their life rather than give their life to Jesus--He's no additive, but the Lord and will not save them in any other capacity.  Christians have an abundant life, but this is not to be interpreted that it's God's will for all believers to be successful in the eyes of the world nor to achieve great riches, power, or fame. The highest honor we can have is to suffer for the sake of the gospel, and to bring glory to His name.

One of the great mysteries in life is why the wicked prosper, but their portion is in this life (cf. Psalm 17:14), and ours in the glory.  God does indeed bless us in our endeavors but the results are up to him; we are to be faithful and leave the success to God.  Knowing Mother Teresa said that God calls us to faithfulness, not success per se.  We need to avoid the formulae of success the world offers and seek our fulfillment in serving Christ.

We don't just try Jesus and see if He works for us, but give our lives to Him unconditionally.  Christ did all He could to discourage halfhearted, casual admirers and followers because they didn't know what they were getting into with all the trials, tribulations, sufferings, and even chastisement Christians must learn to endure for the sake of the cross and being conformed to His image.  We don't give Jesus a trial run and see if He works, on the other hand, we must consider the cost of discipleship and make a commitment.  Discipleship involves discipline, endurance, faithfulness, and commitment and the road isn't easy--Christ never promised a bed of roses!

We don't fit Christ into our schedules and plans, but make no plans without His consent and learn to do His will and walk in the Spirit in fellowship with Him.   A good encouraging word is that if He got you to it, He'll get you through it.  We are never alone, nor overwhelmed by our troubles (cf. Isaiah 43:2).  We must not reduce the Christian life to a formula, a philosophy, or a creed, but it's all about knowing the Lord and proving it.  Yes, the Christian life is not hard, it's impossible, it's been put, and we can do nothing without God's power ("... 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty...", Zech. 4:6, NIV).  Jesus Himself said, "...apart from me you can do nothing" (cf. John 15:5, NIV).

Christ was honest enough to forewarn us of future affliction, discipline,  suffering, adversity, trials, and tribulations for His name's sake, and He asks us to do nothing He didn't do Himself, while our crosses pale in comparison to His (and He didn't exempt Himself from any adversity).  This is Reality 101 and it's inevitable.  There is no crown without a cross to bear and we must daily take up our cross and follow Him (cf. Mark 8:34,35; Matt. 16:24) wherever He leads with a walk of faith, not sight, for we don't always know what's ahead, but that Christ is with us all the way.

It's not all about "cashing in on your spiritual lottery ticket," nor storing up treasures on earth, but in looking for a future reward in heaven. We live in light of eternity!  In the final analysis, Jesus is not something we add to our lives, but someone we make our lives, which are defined by Him and His will for us, realizing that life makes no sense without Him--as some people try to do and are merely existing, not living, it's been well put.    Soli Deo Gloria!

A Genuine Abundant Life In Christ

Christ promised a "more abundant life" or "life to the full [the max]" in John 10:10, but few believers achieve it or find this new life in Christ; they live defeated lives battling Satan and enslaved to sin and self, even their pet sin (cf. Psalm 18:23; 19:12-13), and haven't had victory over the sin which easily entangles them (cf. Heb. 12:1), so as to move on to inner fulfillment and meaning as a believer doing God's will--as we're wired to do.  Being set free is the most rewarding experience as a believer and we gain power over our sin.

The abundant life is not about having more material goods, or even achieving the so-called American dream, or necessarily anything money could buy--Paul had it all (this life) and look at how he suffered!  Jesus made the promise that if we "seek first his kingdom and righteousness," that "all these things shall be added unto [us]" (cf. Matt. 6:33).  But what did he mean?  Jesus never promised to meet our so-called felt-needs or wants, but only our needs (cf. Phil. 4:19) as God sees them to do His bidding and will--for we shall never lack God's resources to do God's will (cf. 2 Cor. 9:8)!

Dismiss the materialistic Christian who believes that the man who dies with the most toys wins! Jesus advised against storing up "treasures in this world" (cf. Matt. 6:19)!  Material blessings are not evil per se, if they are God's will, though; however, A. W. Tozer wrote a book about the "blessedness of possessing nothing."  Actually, Corrie ten Boom also found out we are richer when we hang on to things "loosely" and realize God is the owner, and we are only stewards of everything as a gift on loan from God (we are actually on borrowed time too!)--Psalm 31:15 (NIV)  says, "My times are in your hands...."

There is a greater gratitude in the fewness of possessions (whereof we are now content to have little or much per Phil. 4:13; cf. Psalm 84:11), and a joy in giving, for it's "more blessed to give than to receive" (cf. Acts 20:35).  God just wants us to cultivate a debt of gratitude and to be thankful in all circumstances, though not for evil itself, the opportunities it brings and that God trusts us with the trial to overcome it--for all faith must be tested as if by fire.

Now, what is the abundant life?  It is the appreciation of life and the little things as the gift from God, and all it entails.  You find new fondness and excitement in the mundane, and also the fortitude to endure trials and the endurance and ambition to work hard and not be lazy because you have a purpose in what you're doing.  When you look at the sunset, or the wonder of the stars at night, or the beauty of a rose, will you scorn their Creator?  Creation is filled with things to put us in awe and have to reverence God for His wonders and mysteries.

The believer who has an abundant life will find joy in the little things, like a portrait of a dear one, a piece of art on a canvas, or even in nature, such as the beauty of a tree, that only God can make.  Everything seems to have meaning and gives the opportunity for serving God and finding joy and delight.  Remember how Paul rejoiced even while in prison (cf. Phil. 4:4, says to "rejoice in the Lord always")--the fruit is that you want to share it!

This joy is an inner sense that no one can take away, and doesn't depend upon happenings, like happiness does, but is Christ-centered and has purpose.  Christians who have a purpose and know-how God uses them and offer themselves to God are the most joyful ones--for a believer that isn't a servant is a contradiction in terms--even Christ came to serve (cf. Mark 10:45). We ought always to be abounding in the work of the Lord and to aim to please Him, our Master. If we are willing to do His will, He will show us what it is and give us the opportunity to do it and we will find purpose.  Second Peter 1:10 (NIV) says that we ought to "make [our] calling and election sure" and this is the first step to finding purpose as a believer (everything to live on--nothing to live for!).  NB:  Christians are spiritually alive as well!

The key is that we are meant to find joy worshiping, and even in the little things--that money can't buy, especially relationships, i.e.,  fellowship (we use things and relate to and love people, not vice versa).  We see God at work in the world and what man can to do with God's will and a purpose, so he's a man on a mission!  Beware: "prosperity theology," or false teachers who tell you to cash in on Christ now, and if you don't have the so-called American dream or material prosperity and success, that you are missing out and are sub-par--who have missed the boat and the cut spiritually, and fall short.  Many things, such as appreciation of fine art; music; peace of mind; knowing forgiveness; having purpose, drive, fulfillment, and meaning in life--these cannot have a price tag on them and are priceless!

The conclusion of the matter is that to be a "vessel of honor" and be used by God for His glory is the greatest joy one can experience, and this is not something experienced apart from the abundant life in Christ.  There is comfort and joy knowing that Christ will never leave us nor forsake us (cf. Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5) and anoints us for His work.  Let us have this simple prayer:  Lord, melt me; mold me; fill me, and use me! There's a caveat to all believers:  Do you appreciate the things God does give you, before asking for more, and are you a good steward of God's resources--relationships, time, talents, spiritual gifts, opportunities, energy, and money?

Here's the ultimate question:  Are you hard to please?  And so, in short, the abundant life to be experienced is the exchanged, surrendered, and yielded life (cf. Gal. 2:20) with Christ living through us as we yield to His promptings and will--the more enslaved to Christ, the more joy and freedom in Christ!  The platitude is still valid: It's not how much of the Spirit you have, but how much of you He has!   Soli Deo Gloria! 

Life With A Capital "L"

ARE YOU EXISTING OR LIVING, IF YOU DON'T KNOW CHRIST YOU HAVE NO LIFE, PERIOD.  TO KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE, HIM AND THE HAPPIEST, MOST FULFILLED PEOPLE ARE THOSE IN LOVE AND HAVE PURPOSE FROM GOD, THAT IS BIGGER THAN LIFE.
Christians don't have to sin and have the power to overcome by faith:  "Being made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness"  (Rom. 6:18, KJV).  


Jesus came to bring us life, and life to the full, i.e., a more abundant life per John 10:10 and most Christians are living defeated lives, succumbing to the so-called Anfectung (German used by Luther), or attack of Satan, our adversary, and opponent. Eternal life isn't just in reference to time but begins upon salvation and we share in God's very life!   Christians don't have the right to live in the flesh, but the power to live in the Spirit!  When we sin, we don't show our freedom, but demonstrate our slavery, if we are overcome by a sin, and if any brother is caught in a sin (Gal. 6:1, ESV, says, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.

Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted"), not leading to death (1 John 5:16, ESV, says, "If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask...") we should pray and restore him.  To live the abundant life you must learn to walk with God like Noah did:  "Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God."  "Enoch [also] walked with God, and was not, for God took him" (i.e., raptured him to heaven!).

We don't just have the selective indwelling, but the permanent residence of God in our hearts to stay in sync with God and on the same page as the Spirit!  We are filled by God in order to accomplish a God-ordained and given task to His glory; we don't walk around on cloud nine or with our heads bowed in holiness.   We must cultivate the fruit of the Spirit and it is grown by grace, not all at once, but over time--we must be patient.  Love is the ultimate fruit of the Spirit, and the other eight winsome graces are but manifestations of it in various forms.  We walk in love, speak the truth in love, do deeds in love, and demonstrate God's love by loving our neighbor and people will know we are disciples by our calling card of love as the keynote.  ("They'll know we are Christians by our love!")

God gives us richly all things to enjoy per 1 Tim. 6:17 and will withhold no blessing from us that is for our own good (cf. Psalm 84:11 ) "... no good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly [walk with God!]").  We are blessed in all our endeavors and God makes it fruitful as we bear fruit that honors God in our work, which is done to bear the image of God.  There is a false,  prosperity theology, that says we can cash in on God's riches and we are automatically guaranteed riches and financial prosperity if we are right with the Lord.  But this is not what being prosperous and successful is.  Mother Teresa of Calcutta says, "God doesn't call us to success, but to faithfulness."

God doesn't want our achievements, he wants us and our obedience!   We don't do anything for God, He only uses us as vessels of honor to accomplish His will and glory; for our purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, according to  The Westminster Shorter Catechism (ca. 1646).  God says for us to open our mouths wide and He will fit it in Psalm 81:10 and many times says He will satisfy our needs and meet them when we are in His will (cf. Phil. 4:19).  God satisfies us with good things to enjoy, just as He gives food to all creatures.  Even our appetite comes from God, for some people have lost theirs and no longer enjoy food, which was meant to be our portion of blessing, along with our work, according to Eccl. 3:13.

This is our portion: to find purpose and meaning in life through Christ--there comes a time of maturity when we aren't looking for fun, but meaning and impact, and we want to leave a legacy, not just be thrill-seekers, living for the here and now; we are to live in light of eternity and live for something bigger than ourselves--that's the key, not to just live for yourself, in your own little world and reality. Living for self or having selfish ambition is a recipe for disaster and a formula for suicide.  We are meant to love others, not just ourselves!  Albert Schweitzer said that the only truly happy persons are those who have learned to serve others.

When God gives us a ministry to our brethren and/or a mission to our lost friends and neighbors, we commence to live and realize our potential in with the aid of the Spirit's filling and anointing. Paul sums it up in Col. 1:10, ESV, as follows:  "... bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God [Note that good works and knowing God are correlated!]."  Soli Deo Gloria!  

The Good Life With A Capital "L"

 "Thus says the LORD:  'Stand by the roads, and look; and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls..." (Jer. 6:16, ESV). 
"... And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength"  (Neh. 8:10, ESV).  
"When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad..." (Acts 11:23, ESV). 
"I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart" (Ps. 119:32, KJV).  [Emphasis added.]

Many long for the so-called American dream, thinking of success--a materialistic lifestyle.  Mother Teresa of Calcutta, now canonized, said that we are not "called to success, but to faithfulness."  God doesn't demand achievements, but obedience! Not our success; He wants us! Ethics is the study of how one goes about the good life--living as we ought, right living.  "If God does not exist, all things are permissible,' according to Dostoevsky.  Plato said that if he were to know how to live, he must know what God is like.

There can be no ethics without absolute truth, and no final arbiter of truth without God.  We all pursue the good life to some degree by chasing fantasies and dreams, but only in Christ can we find it:  "I am come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly"  (cf. John 10:10).  God's command: "Be fruitful and multiply."  We are "restless" till we find "rest in God" (Saint Augustine).  We don't want to just exist, but to live! Alive in Christ!

God cares a lot about right and wrong and has given each of us a conscience as a moral compass and fabric to know His law (cf. Rom. 2:15).  Everyone knows it, though we flaunt it.  No one has obeyed or listened to his conscience in toto, though Jiminy Cricket said, "Always let your conscience be your guide," and Martin Luther said, "To go against conscience is neither right nor safe," when asked to recant or burn at the Diet of Worms.  The resultant good life is composed of orthodoxy or right belief, and orthopraxy, or right [faith into] action.

The good life is something inside you, it's a spirit that you attain in finding fulfillment and meaning or purpose is life.  If you don't have a worldview you will never put things in perspective, though.  Religion can change you, and in fact, some may say that you got religion!  But Christ transforms from the inside out, He doesn't just reform you like a recovering alcoholic. It's not walking on Cloud Nine, or always being "spiritual" either.  We are given new life in Christ and a fresh start with a clean slate, and we don't have to look back!  The proof of the pudding is in the eating:  "Taste and see that the LORD is good..." (cf. Psalm 34:8). Peter said:  "[I]f indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good"  (1 Pet. 2:3, ESV).  "... God] delights in the welfare of his servant!" (Ps. 35:27, ESV).

The reason people follow some of the world's religions is that they work (this is pragmatism)!  Yes, but whether something works is not the test of truth.  Christianity isn't true because it works, but it works because it's true.  Yoga, TM, and meditation work if you believe in them, but this is what the world and the devil have to offer as cheap parodies of the real thing.  They are a sham and their effects are deceptive, for the devil can appear as an angel of light and bring about great wisdom (like Buddha's Eightfold Path).  He thought of the Four Nobel Truths, but you cannot get saved nor save yourself, no matter how many noble truths you dream up for enlightenment.

The goal in life is to know Jesus in fellowship, serving Him for fulfillment.  There is a great intrinsic reward in knowing divine wisdom, which is superior to religion.  We are set free in Christ as believers from our sin but don't have permission to live in the flesh, but the power to live in the Spirit.  Pascal said: "There is a God-shaped vacuum in every heart."

The Lord promises to take care of all our needs (cf. Phil. 4:19), that we will never be in want (cf. Psalm 23:1), and that He will "withhold no good thing from him walks uprightly" (cf. Psalm 84:11). He gives us richly all things to enjoy (cf. 1 Tim. 6:17) and gives us the ability to transcend materialism and "possess our possessions" (cf. Obadiah 17).   John prays:  "Dear friend, I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health, just as your soul prospers" (3 Jn. 2, HCSB).  There is not a "prosperity theology" whereby we are promised material blessings consequential to our faith, but God promises to bless us in all our endeavors if they are the Lord's work done in His name.  Even our work, food, and drink are the blessing of God (cf. Eccl. 3:13).

Religion doesn't ask you to sacrifice yourself and doesn't talk in terms of lost and saved, but Christ came to save those who are lost and to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him--a high cost for discipleship; not cheap grace or easy-believism.  But it costs more to reject Him. Christ alone diagnoses our problem as our sin nature and gave us the power to overcome it.  Jesus never made salvation easy, but well-nigh impossible--what He wants is you!  But the reward is worth it.

Isn't it more rewarding to live your life knowing without a doubt that you're headed to heaven?  No religion can duplicate this assurance of salvation, because, in a works religion, you never know.  In Christianity, you aren't saved by works, but by grace, a word foreign to religion.  Religion is defined as a way to gain the approbation of God by works, then, without grace.

Only Christianity offers the thrill of a lifetime and the joy of knowing God (cf. John 17:3) because we believe He is a personal, immanent, and approachable, and loves us (cf. 1 John 4:8). We were designed to know and love God while walking in fellowship, the Bible is our Owner's Manual and God knows best how to give us the good life--being fulfilled.  The eternal life we receive isn't just in longevity but in quality!

As Jesus said, "Now this is eternal life:  that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3, NIV).  Knowing God is part of the package and is the most rewarding of any relationship.  Paul considered everything he had "that was to his profit" as "rubbish," compared to knowing Christ (cf. Phil. 3:7-10).  Soli Deo Gloria!  Hallelujah!   Amen!

He Makes Something Beautiful

The song goes, "Something beautiful, something good; all my confusion He understood; all I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife; He made something beautiful of my life!"

"I know, LORD, that a person's life is not his own.   No one is able to plan his own course"  (Jer. 10:23, NLT).

"The LORD will work out his plans for my life--for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever.  Don't abandon, me, for you made me"  (Psalm 138:8, NLT). 

"How can we understand the road we travel?  It is the LORD who directs our steps"  (Prov. 20:24, NLT).

"John replied, 'God in heaven appoints each person's work" (John 3:27, NLT).  

"And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified"  (Acts 20:32, ESV).  

"Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm"  (Isa. 7:9, NLT).  

"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls" (Jer. 6:16, NKV).

"Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity"  (Rom. 12:2, J. B. Phillips).

"Does not the Most High send both calamity and good?"  (Lam. 3:38, NLT). "... Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?" (Job 2:10, NLT).

We don't need a self-help or self-improvement course to become what God wants us to be, just learn to walk in the Spirit and avail ourselves of His power over sin.  There's always room for improvement and we are all works in progress!  Even Paul never claimed to have arrived and said that he wasn't there yet (cf. Phil. 3:12-13).  Christ exhorts us to be perfect or mature in Matt. 5:48; however, though perfection is the standard, the direction is the test!  Christians aren't perfect, but they are forgiven; there's no such thing as perfectionism, whereby we don't sin anymore:  "Who can say, 'I made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin?'" (Prov. 20:9, ESV).  The psalmist in Psalm 119:96 said he'd seen the limit of all perfection.

When we are mature in Christ we will be overcomers and find victory over our private sin:  "I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt [sin]"  (Psalm 18:23, ESV).  As Job said appropriately in Job 14:14 (NIV), "All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come." As Psalm 103:4 (ESV) says, "[He] redeems your life from the pit [of despair or depression]."  Just like the transformation of the apostles after the resurrection to make them bold witnesses, we can count on the same power to change us from within.

Religion is just that:  Reaching out to God and trying to gain His approbation.  Christianity is where God stoops down in grace and reaches out to us, doing a work of grace in our hearts that we cannot do; if we had to do anything for salvation we'd mess it up and fail!  The whole point of salvation is that it's a fait accompli or done deal, it's not "do," but "done!" We don't turn over a new leaf or resolve to make amends, or make New Year's resolutions, but are changed by the same dynamic that resurrected Christ--we are given a new life with a fresh start, freed from our past's power over us. Salvation must be recognized as a gift and we don't earn it, didn't deserve it, and can never pay it back!

Unfortunately, we are incurably addicted to doing something for our salvation, but Jesus said the work of God is to believe in Him (cf. John 6:29)!  In a works religion you can never be sure and never know how much work is enough--Christianity alone, of all faiths, offers assurance of salvation and admonishes to make sure of our calling and election (cf. 2 Pet. 1:10) so we won't be the casualty of Satan and our walk won't be paralyzed or stuck in a rut!

We have three areas of weakness that Satan attacked Jesus on the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (cf. 1 John 2:16).  Note that one who is born of God doesn't practice sin or make it his way of living--he has renounced sin!  (Cf. 1 John 3:6).  Knowing ourselves, our adversary the devil and his schemes, and the world-system is key to victory since the best path to victory is to know the enemy! Satan is no original and hasn't thought up any new attacks since tempting Eve in the perfect environment--this means we cannot blame the environment, for we are all depraved through and through by sin's corruption--body, emotions, intellect, and will or volition.  Socrates said that the "unexamined life is not worth living," and the Greeks of antiquity said we must know ourselves--this is true because we are our own worst enemy and Satan knows our vulnerability and weakness and "seeks whom he may devour" (cf. 1 Pet. 5:8-9).


God has wonderful plans for us and it is never too late to get on track--He has no Plan B, but if we don't seek His will, He may say, "Okay, have it your way!" which will never work out for us:  We must be convinced that all things work out together for our good according to Romans 8:28, but we can thwart God's preceptive will for our lives.  Psalm 81:12 (ESV) says:  "So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels."  We don't clean up our act and then we are ready to do His will or to be saved, but we are incapable of getting our act together apart from grace:  "Apart from Me you can do nothing"  (cf. John 15:5).

We are either in God's will, or not, and we can't say that we'll settle for God's second-best either!  "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jer. 29:11, ESV).  Job's faith was tested as he couldn't understand why we must accept adversity from the LORD if we accept blessing--He sends both good and bad times.  But God can remake our lives into Christ's image because He is in the resurrection business, and no one is too much of a challenge for Him, Jeremiah proclaims "... Nothing is too hard for you"  (Jer. 32:17, ESV).   God answers  Abraham and Sarah:  "Is anything too hard for the LORD...?" (Gen. 18:14, NIV).

We must realize that Christianity is not a catalog of rules, a list of dos and don'ts, a system of ethics or conduct, a philosophy, but a relationship getting to know Jesus--it's not a creed to believe, but a person to know.  Paul said in Acts 13:38-39 (ESV--italics mine) that "everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses." We are set free from sin's dominion (cf. Rom. 6:14) and if Jesus sets us free we shall be free indeed (cf. John 8:36).  Our new life is one of victory and glorifying Christ as we progress from faith to faith (cf. Rom. 1:17) and glory to glory (cf. 2 Cor. 3:18) in our sanctification by the Holy Spirit.

God causes us to triumph (cf. 2 Cor. 2:14) and we "are more than conquerors" (cf. Rom. 8:37).  We don't try hard, but trust in His power to change us from the inside out ("If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation.").  We must remember that nature formed us by procreation; sin deformed us in Adam; schools inform us by education; prison can reform us by punishment when evil; but only Christ can transform us by the power of the Spirit.

Where does this power come from?  The Word of God, the Spirit, God through Christ.  The Word is alive and powerful (cf. Heb. 4:12); the Word is able to work within us for our good (cf. 1 Thess. 2:13); and the same power of the Holy Spirit that resurrected Christ is at work within us--no one is too big a challenge!  (Cf. Phil. 3:10).  He's still in the resurrection business, and changing lives is Christ's vocation.  Jesus is in the business of changing lives!  We can do all through Christ, who strengthens us (cf. Phil. 4:13).

We must rely on the power of God in us and walk by the Spirit, not to fulfill the lusts of the flesh (cf. Gal. 5:16); for as many, as are led by the Spirit are the sons of God (cf. Rom. 8:14).  We are transformed by the renewing of our mind, done by the power of the Word sanctifying us (Jesus prayed in John 17:17:  "Sanctify them by Your Word, Your Word is truth").  Note that no problem is too big a challenge for God, but the change doesn't come all at once either!

We must be overcomers over the sin that easily besets us (cf. Heb. 12:1), and even our pet sin and let no sin have dominion over us (cf. Psalm 119:133). In the same vein:  "How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?  Cleanse me from these hidden faults.  Keep your servant from deliberate sins. Don't let them control me.  Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin"  (Psalm 19:12-13, NLT).   Paul writes:  "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful, All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything."  It is important to realize that our sin doesn't demonstrate our freedom, but proves our slavery and we can be set free (cf. Rom. 6:14).  "You are slaves to whatever you choose to obey" (cf. Rom. 6:16).

We can be set free from the vicious circle of sin and death (cf. Rom. 8:2).  Anyone who has faith can overcome the world and no evil can control us because greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world (cf. 1 John 4:4).  There is no temptation that we cannot overcome and find a way of escape that we can endure it (cf. 1 Cor. 10:13) and nothing will overwhelm us:  "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and your troubles will not overwhelm you"  (cf. Isa. 43:2); "When you go through deep waters, I will be with you, When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown..." (Isa. 43:2, NLT).

We have three enemies of our sin nature, the flesh; the devil and his minions and cohorts; the world-system itself that we are not to love what it has to offer (cf. 1 John 2:15).  But our worst enemy is ourselves and we will find more trouble with ourselves than with anyone else! It has been said facetiously that "We have met the enemy and he is us!"  We live in enemy-occupied territory, or Satan's turf and are on his hit-list. When we get saved the battle has just begun, but remember, "The battle is the Lord's."  Martin Luther sang in "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God":  Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing.

The only way to sure victory is to be armed with God's heavenly armor:  "Be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might"  (cf. Eph. 6:10).  Our only offensive weapon of choice is the Word of God and this is how Jesus defeated Satan, by quoting it:  "It is written!"   We must have our defenses intact too:  the shield of faith; the belt of truth; the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace; the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation!   So get in uniform with other believers and you'll be ready to wage war on Satan!   Christians are set free form evil and the evil one cannot touch them (cf. John 17:15; 1 John 5:18)--knowing the truth of the matter will set us free (cf. John 8:32).


Everyone has a crutch and it is no shame to lean on the Lord and the Word of God as comfort; He'll never leave us nor forsake us (cf. Heb. 13:5), and will be with us to the end of the age (cf. Matt. 28:20).  'The Lord is my strength and my song, and my salvation" said David in Psalm 18:2.  Our Rock is Christ (cf. Psalm 18:31, 46; 1 Cor. 10:4).  If you don't trust in the Lord, you will trust in man or yourself, and they are not rocks at all.  The biggest reason believers fail is a lack of knowledge and that they don't know the Lord (cf. Hos. 4:1, 6, 14).  As Sir Francis Bacon said, "Knowledge is power" referring to Proverbs 24:5.  Our God is not a throwback to our need for a Father-figure!  He is not a projection that we imagine because we have nowhere else to go!  God can be experienced and made real--He will authenticate Himself to any earnest seeker who is not a trifler (cf. Heb. 11:6)!  "Taste and see that the LORD is good"  (cf. Psalm 34:8, NIV).  There are perks and fringe benefits to knowing the Lord:  "What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?"  (Psalm 116:12, ESV);  "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits"  (Psalm 103:2, ESV).

And so salvation is freedom from guilt, sin's power, condemnation, and the penalty of sin with the promise of being delivered finally from its presence in glory!   Many Christians live defeated lives and fall prey to the devil's schemes of divide and conquer mind games, and deceit or lies.  The best offense is to be armed with the Word resident in our souls to give us the divine viewpoint and worldview to see him at work and fight him and his influence.  Our faith is not a do-it-yourself proposition or lifting ourselves up by our bootstraps, but a work of grace transforming us into new creatures in Christ or being regenerated by the Spirit.   We are saved, we are being saved, and we shall be saved, praise the Lord!   We must give God all the credit, our righteousness is as filthy rags and any goodness we have is God's gift to us, not our gift to God:  "Who makes you to differ?  What do you have that you didn't receive?"  (cf. 1 Cor. 4:7).


In perspective, man ruins his own life and blames God (cf. Prov. 19:3), and when he's a success he gives himself the glory and credit, not realizing that God gives them success (cf. Deut. 8:17; Psalm 1:3; Josh. 1:8;  Jer. 29:11).  It is said that modern man is like the Englishman:  a self-made man who worships his creator!  In contrast note Psalm 100:3 (NKJV):  Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture."  That is:  God is the Potter; we are the clay!   Note God's providence; we need to realize our lives are ultimately in God's hands (cf. Psalm 31:15):  "The course of my life is in Your power..." (HCSB); "My future is in your hands..." (NLT); "My times are in your hand..." (NIV, NKJV).  God orchestrates our lives and plans out each day before we were yet born (cf. Psalm 139:16).  We have a destiny with God in control, not a fate with no input--viva la difference!

In conclusion, seven rather obscure passages come to mind with italics mine:  "Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace:  thereby good shall come unto thee"  (Job 22:212, KJV); I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me"  (Psalm 57:2, ESV); "But He gives more grace..." (James 4:6, NKJV); "... [But] the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways..." (Daniel 5:23, ESV); I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living"  (Psalm 27:13, NKJV, italics in Bible for part A); "You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever"  (Psalm 16:11, NLT);  "Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future lies before those who love peace"  (Psalm 37:37, NLT).  Finally, quoting Paul in 1 Cor. 15:10 (NIV, CAPS MINE):  "BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM WHAT I AM...."  Soli Deo Gloria!

Get A Life!

"In him was life, and the life was the light of men"  (John 1:4, ESV, italics added).  
"[Y]et I will rejoice in the LORD!  I will be joyful in the God of my salvation"  (Habakkuk 3:18, NLT).  
"Without the way, there is no going; without the truth, there is no knowing; without the life, there is no living." --Thomas a Kempis
"The unexamined life is not worth living." --Socrates

Jesus did indeed say, "I am ... the life!"  Note well that He didn't affirm "a" life with an indefinite article, but "the" life with a definite article. There's no other life to be had!  He is not one of many ways to life, nor the best way, but the only way to life (eternal).  When they say we should get a life, they are often talking in the temporal and not in light of the eternal, for we are just pilgrims passing through on our way to eternity.  Only those who know Jesus are really alive, the others are dead spiritually; for Jesus came not to make bad people good, but dead people alive, according to C. S. Lewis.

"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1, ESV), and God made us alive in the Spirit through faith in Christ.  Dead people can do naught to please God, much less have faith, and so God had to quicken faith within us and awaken our spirits with the power to believe.  You are alive for the first time spiritually when you are born again or born from above,  i.e., born of the Spirit. As children of God, we share in the blessings and life of the kingdom of God.

We do not want to merely get a temporal life with all the world has to offer, when this pales in comparison to all the blessings we have in Christ.  Joy, for instance, is a Christian trait of being able to rejoice under any circumstance and see that God is still in control, "... for the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10, ESV).

Man was not made for idleness, but for work and we must find our calling and fulfill God's purpose for us ("For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep ..," Acts 13:36, ESV). We're here for a purpose--God's purpose-- and we are to be like Christ, who was "a man on a mission" par excellence.  People who don't know their purpose try to accomplish too much, but when we focus we get more done, because "you become effective by being selective," it's been said. Don't be fooled or sidetracked by what the world has to offer, nor love the world, for our citizenship is in heaven, and we know that because He lives, we shall also live eternally with Him in glory.

The happiness the world knows is shallow and transitory, and depends upon happenings, while our joy no one can take from us and is a fruit of the Spirit.  All the things that man seeks:  importance, impact, and identity are found in a relationship with Christ.  Only the Christian worldview answers the questions we face today with any certitude and consistency--it applies to all of life and all academia's disciplines. Too many people are on elusive pursuits of dreams they cannot achieve or think that riches, power, and fame will bring them fulfillment. We are designed for God and according to Blaise Pascal:  "If man is not made for God, why is he happy only in God?  If he is made for God, why is he opposed to God?

Henry David Thoreau said that "if a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps he hears a different drummer."  There is only one true drummer to hear:  Jesus!  Two instruments tuned to the same pitch will be in tune with each other, and that's why Christians all everywhere are in fellowship with each other--they share the common bond of Christ.

The biggest mistake in thinking some make is to think that they have to be a success to amount to anything:  Mother Teresa of Calcutta says we are not called to success, but to faithfulness!   Einstein said we shouldn't strive to become a person of success, but of value!  That's it: We are vessels of honor fit for God's service and purpose and we are merely to bear fruit where He has planted us.

In the final analysis, getting a life doesn't entail achieving the American dream, making impressions, or accomplishing anything on our own, but to be used by God in His service, bringing glory to Him (Isaiah 43:7 says this is our purpose).  Knowing who you are in Christ is far more important than achieving, for God doesn't want our achievements, He wants us!  In short, don't just get a life, get life itself, the life only found in Christ.  In sum, even Paul said that he ventured not to boast of anything but of what Christ had accomplished through him (cf. Romans 15:18).
Soli Deo Gloria!