LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT--WITH HIS HELP!

Life? Boy, that is a big subject. How do you ever begin to tackle such a humongous task? That’s exactly what we will try to do today. We ain’t scared of nothin’–right? Four sentences so far and four questions. Reckon I am the man for the job? Well, there’s another question.

To be a nobody-but-myself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make me everybody else-means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting. e. e. cummings

Isn’t that the way it really is? J. B. Phillips has a memorable translation (paraphrase) of Romans 12:2 Don’t let this world press you into its mold. Wake up! That’s what is happening every day. e. e. was right, wasn’t he? It’s a tough battle to try to be what God wants you to be in a world organized against Him. Humanism is much more popular than Christianity and humanism is the world organized against God.

How will I be unique in such circumstances? There is but one way that I have found. It is a daily struggle but one that is worthwhile. It leads to fulfillment every time. It’s not the easy road but it is the road that fulfills goals for living.

Did you ever wonder: Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? Thought provoking, huh? You bet it is! Sometimes when I am running 75 (?) on the freeway, I just think–man, it seems I am heading for eternity at whatever speed. I have thought, It could happen to me right out here in the boonies. I would become nothing, nada, zilch. There would be nothing left but a memory. Morbid?

Let’s get serious. He has a better way. Romans 8 tells us God’s purpose for our lives: to be conformed to the likeness of his Son (v, 29). Now, that’s to be different in this world we live in right now. The neatest thing about all this is that God has provided everything we need to do that very thing (II Pet. 1:3-4). You can’t beat a deal like that, now can you?

That fulfills e. e.’s goal in one respect. That’s the highest goal for self. But is is God's not e. e.'s. To achieve uniqueness in this life is to surrender control to Jesus as Lord (Rom. 13:14). Life takes on a new meaning. And we have Someone more powerful than ourselves to help us with the battles (Eph. 3:20-21).

Can you handle all that? I like it. If only I was totally conformed to the image of his Son. Today is a new day. I have hope!