What is the “Good Life?”

The “Good Life”, has a history of examples of people that “had it all” yet died miserable, empty of anything of “real” value. Still, human beings continue to pursue that life convincing themselves that it will be different.

Jesus’ teaching on what life should be was very plain. There is no confusion; the issue is whether we are willing to embrace that Truth. Listen to what Jesus said:

John 12:25 “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.

What Jesus is not saying:

* Don’t enjoy life. There was a character in the Winnie the Pooh series called Eeyore, he was a donkey, if anyone could find a cloud of doom in their life it was him! Jesus never taught us NOT to enjoy life, He taught us not to COUNT on this life to bring us joy!

* Make sure no one else enjoys life – Christians should not be known for trying to make others not enjoy their life. Some believers, due to wrong thinking, suck life right out of you.

* Choose everything you would hate – Many believers falsely believe you cannot seek to enjoy life according to your preferences. Food, living conditions, even where you live must be the last thing you would desire!

* Make life as tough as you can - The more you suffer the more Godly you are. What a horrible reality, yet I dealt with this on the mission field. Missionaries that made their life as hard as possible – feeling it made them godly. Nothing is further from the truth! Paul makes it clear that whatever situation you find yourself in…Learn to be content!

Philippians 4:11–13 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Here is what Jesus said:

* You must pick which system you will live in!

It cannot be both, that would be lukewarm and He will spit you from His mouth!

Revelation 3:16 ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

If you love the life this world offers, you will devote your time, energy, talents and being to it – and everything you gain dies with you!

If you detest (hate) the temporal offer of this world, instead desire to live for the Lord,  your life here and now becomes an investment that goes into eternity with you.

Two Outcomes

Jn 12:26 “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if  anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”

         

         1 – You will follow where He leads.

You will not be distracted…trip and fall or bump and hurt, you will focus on the path and move.

Jn 12;27 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

2 – Your applause will come from Him.

You won’t be obsessed with what the world thinks…only God matters!

Jn 12:42-43 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather                                                                              than the approval of God.

*** Fruit – A sense of Destiny & Purpose ***

Finish your life with no regret!

* Too many of us are just living to die … God has placed in us a Spirit that is Dying to Live!

The So What: Which are You?