Life, but Better
Real, Best Life
“Some Days are Wonderful” acrylic by Myra Alibrando
Living the Good Life
I think most of us desire to be the best that we can be in our short lives. . . fulfill our potential, find our niche, have a meaningful life, make our mark. At least we want to live happy lives even though it is a dark world.
Our culture, including our family and community, defines success for us. Early in life we begin to form aspirations of good ways we can become better versions of ourselves. We can also be inspired by a celebrity or even a fictional character in a story to reach outside our normal conformity of what everybody thinks success and happiness should look like.
My Best Self, but not Apart from God
As I was praying this morning, asking God to help me be my best self, I said "but not without You."
As I prayed that, I thought "What does my ultimate best look like apart from God?" I know the answer is "pathetic" in contrast to life with God.
The Purpose of a Thing
What is a scuba tank for? Breathing underwater, of course. What if I use the air pressure in the tank instead for cleaning dust in my house. I suppose that could work.
God made us for love and relationship. We are not made to conquer one another, but to bring a higher life quality to others. It is the irony of getting more by giving; that is love.
Relationship: Interaction, Communication
It is no accident that our Creator God gave us more than 100 muscles just for communicating vocal tracts, tongue, and larynx, not to mention so many facial muscles, especially around the eyes and a vast range of expression actors learn to communicate emotions, motives, and relationship. It is more than any other species. Also online, I learned many researchers believe a full 30-40% is engaged for communication speaking and listening. You should look this up. Obviously, communication is not for a man on an island, but for relationship.
Predator and prey is one relationship, but God has called us to love one another. No, it is more than a calling. God has commanded we love others.
My best life, apart from God, makes no sense, since God wants my happiness, fulfilling love, wisdom, and more than I know right now.
A World Obeying God?
The world is in such rebellion that we cannot imagine how great life could be. If the entire world truly loved one another, in families, communities, business, government, and every other relationship . . . what would the world look like in 6 months?
We are so far from living according the design for which we were created, it requires great imagination to picture humanity obeying God.
All Creation Waiting for Man to Repent
The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. Romans 8:19-21
All of nature on earth was made, not alongside man, but for man. Every living thing is sadly subject to the effects of man's sin because the earth and all things here, God made for man. Nature is also cursed because of us. As the verse above says, God subjected nature to the curse of death and sorrow.
creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it
Ready for this? All creation will be set free from horrible curse of death and decay and brought to its original purpose. Before original sin was original sinless design and God’s original purpose for a world free from all sin. God will fix the things He made.
creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God
Plan A: Glorious, Wonderful Lives
When mankind is made right with God, rebellion is gone, the earth itself gets to be what God originally intended; it is glorious freedom for everyone and everything. Unimaginable right? Not in God's imagination. It turns out God is a practical fellow whose purposes no one can stop. This glorious freedom is God's original Plan A and He is 100% determined to see it through.
Now, what is my full potential outside God? A good retirement plan? Good insurance. A nice house and car? Looking healthy until I die at age 100?
Why You Were Born is a Great Thing
God has more than that in mind for you and I.
While I’m still learning I am loved every day.
A scuba tank is better used for breathing underwater and a man made in the image of God is better devoted to living up to the image of his wonderful Creator who adopts him as son and heir forever.
Love this inspired insight bro. Am prone to ponder on this topic a little more. Looking forward to another coffee session with you, if you are free this week. God bless!