Some people experience life to be punishment instead of joy, while others experience it to be joy instead of punishment. However, life is an incredible gift. Life comes with various crossroads, hills and valleys, detours and rerouting but nonetheless life is an incredible gift. Well, you may be wondering since life presents such hardship then what makes this life we have a gift? I have one response for you, life was gifted to us by a giving and loving God.
Many people have their own beliefs of God, what He represents or if He exists at all. Over the years, I had grown to realize my belief system was entrenched in the idea that if you believed in God then you are good, and if you don’t then you are bad.
During my twenties when God delivered me from myself. I found myself conflicted as I read the scriptures such as, ‘A fool will say in his heart, there is no God,’ [Psalm 14:1] and ‘one cannot connect with God except through Jesus’ [John 14:6]. Pretty straight forward, right? Well, I began to ask God about the millions of people who came before me, who never had the opportunity or privilege like me to be born into a cultural experience that speaks highly of Him? What about the people I know who are a part of other religions? How do I process the fact that wonderful people don’t believe in your existence and may never do? It took me years to understand how significant my questions were but before I could, my experiences had to shape me.
When I first started walking with God in maturity, I lost myself in my newfound righteousness which boiled over into self-righteousness. I became critical of “sinners” and would stand firmly on the scriptures, even smiled when I debated and “won” an argument. I was defending Jesus, my faith and what I believed to be my due diligence to Christianity. However, the Holy Ghost revealed to me that I was doing more harm than good and I had forgotten where He brought me from. There I was, a baby in Christ feeling completely free from sin and condemnation with a false mindset which caused me to put others in chains and condemn them at the same time.
Life was given to us all. It is one of the most beautiful experiences one could have with a loving God. God allowed me to revisit my sinful past, sit in it and process how it impacted me before I gained life. I wanted more of my new life – it tasted good and the freedom I felt was out of this world! However, I had to be reminded of where I came from, a place where many people are currently. Debating and thumping the scriptures at people who simply do not believe or understand being alive in Christ will not bring life to them, it will bring condemnation and further spiritual death.
God used my death to humble me. God told me that as a vessel in Christ, created in love, I must remember His patience towards me, His forgiving power that saved me and His grace that sustains me. All are fruits of the spirit. I must exercise due diligence to all I meet, for I will never know who will walk away after the interaction feeling and tasting life for the first time.
We are vessels existing with life inside of us. We have one responsibility, and it is to share life with everyone we encounter. Life does not bring about condemnation and chains, it brings liberation and freedom through submission to the breath of life. Today, I live a life knowing God’s continued love and care for me sustains me, His forgiving power and grace encourages me and his truth molds and motivates me to press on with life living inside of me. I want you to ask yourself, do you feel alive and how are you sharing the life inside of you? It is time to push life forth and lets its cry be a reminder of the promise God gave to us all.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” [Isaiah 9:6].