The Encouraging Word: 4/6/2006

Living the Good Life

We Nebraska residents advertise our pursuit of “the good life” at every state line. But do the majority of the “good folk” and “good ol’ boys” actually experience the good life? What does it really take to make life good anyway: a bountiful corn crop; a winning Husker season; wintering in Florida?

You may recall commercial slogans, over the years that advertised their product’s ability to deliver on “the good life.” A carbonated soda distributor of caffeine and sugar claims that their drink “adds life!” Two different brand names claimed really living must include their frozen TV dinners. Most startling to me was a brand of ladies hosiery that boldly stated: “Their silkiness says, ‘This is living!’” I must really be missing out on life because I didn’t like that pop, eat TV dinners or wear panty hose. But is life really about such trivialities such as what we eat or drink or put on?

Let me paraphrase Jesus’ challenge in Matthew 6:26: “Don’t be anxious over daily matters like what you’ll eat or what you’ll drink. And don’t stress out over your appearance and the brand of clothes you wear. Isn’t there more to life than food, and more to the real you than clothes?” Jesus once warned a man involved in an estate feud: “Even when someone has an abundance of money, his life does not consist of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15).

Darin reminded us on Sunday of King Solomon’s lament after partaking of all the best that this world has to offer: “Vanity of vanities; all is vanity!” Even after becoming the king with absolute authority and total freedom; even after accomplishing greater works than all who went before; even after partaking of the love-favors of nearly a thousand women; even when he could own and use anything that his eyes looked on…He kept singing the sad refrain: Vanity – futility, emptiness, meaningless.

This truth will either bring you to despair or bring you to the starting point of life: Everything in the world is not enough to live for! It makes no difference if you are a materialist seeking fulfillment in owning, an existentialist seeking meaning in experience, or an hedonist seeking fulfillment of your physical appetites – true life cannot be found within the boundary lines of any state, or the world for that matter.

Jesus made it very clear: “I have come that they might have life, and might have it abundantly!” (John 10:10). “I am the way, the truth and the life!” He said in John 14:6. John later stated the essential component of real life: “He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” (1 John 5:12).

So, again, let me ask: “Are you really living, or just existing? Is it time to get a life?”

This is Mike Neely with another encouraging word!

This is Mike Neely with the Encouraging Word!

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