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.
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?
