“His lord said unto him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
– Matthew 25:23

One of the ideas that has been running through my mind over the last year is how short life is and what it means to live a meaningful life. In the sermon the other day, my dad – who is 76 – said that he could easily remember how short a time ago it was when he was just a young man. Man, oh man, does this feel true for me. Now I’m 46. Just a little while ago, I was 30, and just before that, I was 20. It doesn’t seem that long ago, but in reality, my life is already half over if I make it to old age. This makes me reflect back on my life and what meaning it has had.

I have a good family that I am proud of. I have accomplished a few things in my life. I have had the opportunity to help some people along the way who couldn’t really do anything for me. I go to church every Sunday and have a relationship with Jesus. This should be enough. I’ve accomplished all that I want to in life. I would still like to see my kids become adults, but that is really the last big thing for me. This is a good life and all that I need, but it’s not.

Find Work
Growing up we had an unspoken rule: If everyone else was working, you better find something to do. Don’t get caught being the only one not working. Funny side note: being the talker that I am, I have been told many times that telling stories does not count as working. I hope one day my oldest will learn this lesson. My dad taught this lesson to me well. At 76, I still have days where it is tough to keep up with him.

So what is it that keeps him going? He lives what he preaches. Everyday he wakes up looking for God’s purpose in the day. His struggle against the darkness is never over. Everyday there is someone or some situation where he can show God’s love and light. Everyday is a chance for him to be an example of how to live a godly life. Everyday for my dad is a fight. I hope in a little while, when I am 76, I can live up to this example.

The Proving Ground
So much of Western life is geared towards the ‘good life.’ If I can get a good job, I can have good vacations or houses or toys. If I work hard, one day I can retire and just relax. We are always trying to get to the next thing where life will get easier. However, as a Christian I don’t think that this should be our goal.

Here is what I think our goal as Christians should be. This life that we are given is short. It is a test. Will we choose to live a life that will show God’s love and His perfect plan for others, or will we chose to serve ourselves and our selfishness? At the end of life, absolutely nothing else matters: not family, not jobs, not other symbols of success. The only thing that will matter is did you love God, did you show His love to others, and did you do His will?

The Beauty of the Plan
Again life is short. Jesus lived 33 years, and then His life here was over. In that time, He showed us the perfect plan: love God, be obedient, and love your neighbor. However, what it took to do that is exactly what He requires of us. He had to do battle with Himself, His flesh man.

When He went out into the desert, He was tempted with physical needs, power, and self-importance. When He came out of the wilderness, He was ready to get to work, because He had passed the test. He had chosen to love God and be obedient rather than serving Himself. This is the beauty of God’s plan. All of us can do this. You don’t have to be special or anointed to do battle with your flesh, to choose God and obedience over your selfish desires.

The Beginning
If you are poor, you can serve God. If you are weak, you can serve God. If you are suffering, you can serve God. There are no limitations on when we can love and serve Him. So your life is a proving ground. It is a short test of whether you will serve the pleasures of your flesh or choose loving Him and being obedient. This is just the beginning. I don’t know exactly what life holds after we pass the test except that we will be with Him in perfect peace. This is the reward regardless of the suffering or successes we experienced on earth.

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
– James 1:12

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
– Romans 5:3-5

“Not every one that saith unto me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
– Matthew 7:21

– Written by Jeremiah

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