I think there would be no one that would argue that we all have one life. The question is, what are we going to do with it? Will your life be spent with trivial, fun things to do? Will it boil down to relationships that are based on the things of this world? It is a lot to think about because, face it, we all have one life, and then we die. Let’s look at some lives in the Bible. God’s word is always our instructions, full of examples of how we should live this life.
First, let’s look at a life well lived. Joseph, one of Jacob’s sons, lived a life sold out to God. Because of that, he exhibited a life of integrity, faithfulness, and honor. He was his father’s favorite child, and while we frown on the idea of having favorite children, it happens, and it is usually because that child chooses to honor and obey their parents. When he was 17, he was sent by his father to check on his brothers, who were feeding their flocks, and he willingly obeyed. His response to his father was, “Here am I.” Genesis 37:13 “And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.” This began a life of situations that were not what anyone would choose, yet Joseph handled them well. His brothers sold him into slavery because they were jealous. They told his father animals had killed him. Joseph was honorable in all his actions, was sold to the Egyptians, and became the manager of Potiphar’s household. Potipher’s wife lusted after him and tried to get him to sleep with her. When he refused, she grabbed him, and he came out of his coat and ran. She lied about the situation, and he was imprisoned. While in prison, he interpreted dreams, and Pharoh brought him out of prison to interpret his dream. Pharaoh was impressed with this young man and made him second in command of all of Egypt. This position allowed him to save his family when the famine came.
Genesis 41:37-41 “And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.”
Joseph chose to live to honor and glorify God in all he did, and God blessed him for it. This is a life well lived.
On the opposite side of a life well lived, we will look at a life lost. Saul was the first king of Israel. Samuel anointed him king under the authority of God. He was living a life for God until he allowed his blessings to become his curse. He had everything any person could want. Early in Saul’s reign, he was sold out to God. He was successful against the enemies of God’s people. Gradually, Saul begins to do things his way, not God’s, and in I Samuel 13:14, God tells Saul because of his disobedience, the kingdom will be taken from him. God was seeking someone after his own heart: “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.”
Fast forward to I Samuel chapter 17. One day, the Israelites were challenged by a giant named Goliath, who was a Philistine. No one wanted to fight this giant except a little shepherd boy named David. He succeeded in the task of killing the giant, and God blessed him. Saul was jealous of David and sought on several occasions to kill him. Samuel anointed David under God’s direction to be the next king of Israel. He was the man after God’s own heart, as stated in 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22.
Act 13:22 “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.”
Saul was rejected by God for his willful disobedience, and in I Samuel 16:14, God forever left Saul.“But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.” When God is not present, the door is wide open for Satan. Later, Saul commits suicide, and his sons are all killed in battle. No longer did he have the blessing of God in his life, and it affected all those around him. Saul shows us a life lost because he sought his way and not God’s.
We have the choice to receive the One life sacrificed for our sins. If we have been saved, we must choose to continue to live a life that makes a difference for Christ. Will you choose to live a life surrendered without yielding to the influences of this world? One life leads to standing before God and hearing Him say well done. The other leads to destruction and a life filled with unwanted consequences. Which will you choose?
The words to the song “Only One Life” have been stuck in my brain all week. “Only one life, so soon it will pass. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” This is reality, simple yet profound. Think about it.
