Posted on November 11, 2022 by Elizabeth Welte in Freedom Fighters
“…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” ~ Jesus (Matthew 28:20)
I hear this question often as I teach, “Is life really worth living?” Some students will say it out loud in conversation and others will weave the idea through their papers. The discouraging part is that it’s not just those who claim to be ‘atheists’, but many who have grown up in churches and religious homes. The problem it seems is… we have relegated our beliefs and bibles to the back shelf under fantasy, and only give them a casual glance at emotional or stressful moments…. never taking what Jesus said or did seriously. Consider this, when is the last time you prayed… actually believing God hears you and will answer? How about the last time you seriously read yours or any bible, believing it was the guidebook to knowing the Designer and The Design for the fantastic life you have been graciously given…? How about this, do you believe, and live like, prayer and studying God’s Word are critical to your everyday choices?
Life holds no meaning separate from God…. just as a radio lacks purpose unplugged from its power source. Paul makes a very acute statement in writing about this topic; he states, “God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.”(2 Cor 5:5) If God ‘is’ preparing us, ‘in this life’ for a life to come, then this life holds great worth. God is at work in this life pursuing us who are of great worth to Him. He manifested this worth by giving His only begotten Son in ransom for us, redeeming us from the power of sin and death. And if God has gone to such great lengths to ‘prepare us’ in this life, even giving us (in this life) The Spirit as a pledge for All that is to come, so we can taste and see that the Lord is Good…
In this life…. the answer is yes, this life is worth living!
Paul goes on to exclaim, “So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing.” (2 Cor 5:6-7)
The more we understand God and His Word, the more we long for Him, to be in His presence. In our physical un-resurrected bodies we can’t do that yet, but, by living now, by faith, based on what He has already done and provided, we can enjoy a taste of all that is to come! All that God has done, is doing, and will accomplish is for you…. making this life worth living; and providing you with a confidence, so that you can be of ‘good courage’ each day and moment, no matter what you face. You are not alone, He is with you!
“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
Praying you choose Christ today
Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, grandfather, Pastor with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is the Associate Pastor of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church. He is the author of two devotional books, “From a Chair by the Window.” And “#PrayerWinsThe Day”.
Think About This: “The purpose of all prayer is to find God’s will, and make that will our prayer.” –Catherine Marshall
The Daily Bible Reading: Lamentations 3-5; Hebrews 8 You can download our 2022 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “…in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:21-22
Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
