: The gift of life…
I was walking down the street and said good morning to someone going past. This man quickly replied, “Good morning to you – great day to be alive.” As I reflected, it made me realise again that ‘life’ is a wonderful gift from God. Yes, there are people who struggle daily with illness or some handicap, but for the majority, life is sweet, especially in a land flowing with milk and honey.
Unfortunately, many who enjoy the sweetness of life do not acknowledge the blessings they receive from God’s gracious hand. They never seem to reflect on who made this universe or this world they enjoy. They don’t seem to consider why they were born or their ‘greater’ purpose in life or even life after death. They just go through life, enjoy the best, take what they can, and when they reach the end, they either feel cheated because they didn’t live longer, or they say that ‘life’ has been good and they have no complaints.
However, when you think a little about their lives, or you attend a non-Christian funeral, you soon realize that their lives are rather empty. It’s all about the ‘here and now.’ Although God has placed eternity in their hearts (Ecc 3:11) they deny that He exists. Although God can be known in part from what has been made (Rom 1:18ff), they, because of their wickedness, have refused to seek Him and hence rob God of the glory and thankfulness He deserves.
But consider for a moment if were only to experience what it means to be alive for a few short years, it would be reason enough to give our Creator thanks. If we only live to experience a loving family, it would be reason enough to give our Creator thanks. If we live and can enjoy the choicest foods and wines occasionally, it would be reason for thanks. In fact, to not give thanks is sinful and without repentance it would make us objects of His wrath.
Interestingly, in some ways Christians and non-Christians experience much the same about life on earth. We also experience God’s goodness as well as life’s struggles and hardships. However, there is a marked difference for us as Christians, for we also have the sure and future hope of glory. If future glory wasn’t certain than life would be rather empty for us too. So this additional blessing helps us to be patient when things go against us, thankful when things go well, and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that nothing will separate us from His love (HC, LD-10 Q&A 28).
So, we have many reasons for thanks and far too many to keep it all to ourselves. Let us then not bury the treasure we have received but in thankfulness be singing about God’s goodness for his glory every day of our lives whether it be a few years or many years. And as God gives us opportunity, let us reach out to those who whose lives are now rather empty so that they can experience life and have it in full too (Jn 10:10).