Pursue Life

“My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.” (Proverbs 4:20-22)

Over two hundred years ago the founders of our nation penned a document that declared our independence as a nation. Within the Declaration of Independence we are told “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Today in 2020, Government officials promise life on condition...do this and you will live: wear a mask...stay home...wash hands...social distance...etc.

Diet plans. Nutrition & Vitamin stores. Organic food. Medicine. Homeopathics. Exercise. Vaccines. Therapy. Self-help books. These are multi-million dollar enterprises that sell the same thing...do this and live.

Voices are crying out in the marketplace through our tv advertisements, social media, news, politicians, bookstores, and they are all promising us ways in which we can experience abundant life. And we as a collective people spend our resources and make incredible sacrifices in the hopes that one thing or another will finally be the key to abundant life.

We were made for life. That’s how it was in the beginning in the Garden of Eden. The Lord God breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being. But then the fall happened. And sin came into the world. And through sin, death. But we, desperate for life in the midst of a culture of death, go from one thing to the next pursuing life on our own terms. We follow the voices telling us what we ought to do to live. We try to get others to follow and do the same. Ultimately, even if we do ALL of these things perfectly we will not find life! They are empty wells promising life but will always disappoint. The Lord through the prophet Jeremiah says, “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water (Jeremiah 2:13).” Notice who it is that the Lord is saying is looking for life outside of Him...HIS people. This is not just a problem for unbelievers. This is a problem for believers. The perpetual pursuit of life outside of the Giver of Life has been ALL OF OUR problems since Eden.

Calling out in the midst of all these voices that are promising us life is a voice that is oft unheard. It is a voice that is oft neglected. It is a voice that is oft ignored. But it is the Voice of One calling us to TRUE life. Life abundant. Life eternal.

 “Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks; ‘How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.’” (Proverbs 1:20-23)

 In John 7:37-39 this proverb is pictured for us in a Person: the One “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:2).” “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Now this He said about the Spirit whom those who believe in Him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

Both through the written Word and the living Word we have the promise of Life. Jesus said in John 17:3 that eternal life is found in knowing the one true God and His Son Jesus Christ. The Spirit of God through the Word of God makes us come alive to Christ, and gives us abundant life IN Christ. 

Just like there is a cost to all other pursuits of life in this world, there is a cost for eternal, abundant life. But the cost has been paid for you. Abundant life was paid for with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. You do not have to purchase this life. We are merely called to turn...to turn to His voice that is calling out in the marketplace to turn and repent from the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness outside of Him. Turn at His rebuke and He will pour out His Spirit on you and make His words known to you. His Words are life-giving words. And it is the pursuit of His Life-giving words in the study of Scripture where I would like to see us spend our energy. It is my hope and prayer that, more than how we pursue life, liberty, and whatever else we think we need in this temporal life, we would expend ourselves and our resources in the study of Scripture, within community, as this is all we truly need for life and godliness. After all, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (John 6:68)” 
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Rooted in the Word:
Spend time meditating on Proverbs 1:20-23, Proverbs 4:20-22, John 7:37-39

Pondering the Word:
 *In what ways are you pursuing life outside of God?
 *What are the things that distract you from pursuing life in God and in His Word?
*What are some practical steps that I can take to pursue life in God and in His Word?
*How can you help encourage and point others to pursue life in God and in His Word?

Praying the Word:
Spend some time asking God to give you the desire, time, and energy to pursue Him through the study of His Word.