THE LIFE WE LIVE
By K. S. Ajibola
Introduction
What do you think is the true essence of life? Jesus Christ in John 10:10 said "I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.” From this, this article is set to explore how God intends for us to live meaningfully and faithfully.
The Stages of Life
Human life is in stages as revealed in the scriptural and explained in psychology. Using Biblical records, our life can be divided into r stages: birth, youth, adulthood, and old age. Each of these stages comes with a unique characteristics.
Innocence goes with the first stage - Birth. In Psalm 139:13-16 we read that: “You knit me together in my mother’s womb... all the days ordained for me were written in your book...”. God, being the Creator knows everything about us, nothing is hiding from Him (Isaiah 46:10)
With the second stage - Youth comes dreams. At that stage, God declared in His word that you should “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth...” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). With the youthful vigour and strength, we aspire to be this or that, we dream, we chase, we run, we are full of strategies, we engage in so many dangerous activities, we even plot with ploy. How do God want us to use our youthful age? We are to remember our Creator! We are to keep God in our pursuits, we are to do His Will, we are to keep His commandments (John 15:14; I John 5:3-4).
The third stage is Adulthood, this stage comes with Responsibility. At this stage, we are responsible for all our actions and inactions. At this stage, we are expected to do away with childish things (1 Corinthians 13:11).
The last stage is Old Age which comes with Reflections. At this stage, we long to unturn the hands of clock, but alas, it is late. Such is a wishful thinking. The precious time given to us from birth to adulthood that we have wasted on mundaneness will taunt as we reflect on how we have lived our life. The Bible declared in the book of Job 12:12 that “Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?”
The Choices We Make
As free moral agents, we have power of choice. However, no choice is made without its corresponding consequence. To the Israelites, God declared through the mouth of Moses that “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life...” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
God want us to live a morally upright life. Though, the world is filled with the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life (1 John 2:15-16), the word of God warns that “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12).
God want our living to influence others. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world...” (Romans 12:2). We can achieve this by living in conformity with the word of God and thereby have positive influence on others around us. Living thus will make this life an enjoyable one because all of us will be doing the will of God which is not in anyway burdensome (I John 5:3).
Challenges in Life
Life in itself is challenging. On daily basis human are faced with challenges. What makes or mar is is the way we handle the daily and numerous challenges that comes our way. Meanwhile, in the Bible, we have being encouraged to "consider it pure joy... whenever you face trials... because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3). God do not leave His creation unattended to, especially in their challenges. “God... comforts us in all our troubles...” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).
The Legacy We Leave
God want us to leave a good legacy such as a Good Name, “A good name is more desirable than great riches...” (Proverbs 22:1), Eternal Impact, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16), and Spiritual Heritage - “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice...” (2 Timothy 1:5).
Living a Life that Matters
God want us to live a life that matters. The life that matters is the life that walk with God by doing "... justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). We are to have a purpose in life, which is to do good work. The Word of Life declared that, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works...” (Ephesians 2:10). The word of God also says: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...” (Galatians 5:22-23). This is how to live a life full of purpose.
Conclusion
To live a life of purpose and sincerity, we are to “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). We are to live for God - “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21). To be with God in eternity, we should emulate Paul and say honestly that “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith...”
How about you? Have you been living a purposeful life or selfish life? A life that honour God or the one that stand against the word of God?
You can turn away from all these today and believe the gospel of Christ, repent of your sins, confess your faith in Christ, and be baptised for the remission of your sins into one body of Christ - the church of Christ (Colossians 1:18, 24; Romans 16:16-17).
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