Friday, March 02, 2007

Day 5 - What is my view of life?

What is my view of life?

How do I define my life? What is my life? James 1 vs. 14 – says “why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”. The Way I see my Life shapes my Life – one of the best ways to understand others is to find out how they view their life. What is MY View on life – whatever it is? Let God transform it. Romans 12 vs. 2 – Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, His good, pleasing and perfect will.

If you asked me what my view on my life was I would have said to suffer, to have trouble and sorrow, to end my life in disgrace. For my Life is a great huge TEST. I realise that in order for God to develop and reveal my character, He continually watches my response to people, problems, success, conflict, illness and disappointments by testing my Faith, obedience, Love, integrity and Loyalty. And they come by the way of major changes, delayed promises, impossible problems, unanswered prayers, undeserved criticism and even senseless tragedies. More importantly, is also how I act when I can’t feel God’s presence in my life. For me, I tend to loose my sense of hope, and be overwhelmed by my sense of hopelessness. This I know is wrong, which subsequently causes me to be overwhelmed with the guilt of not standing firm. I find that God intentionally draws back and I don’t sense his presence [though He is still there] – 2 Chronicles 32 vs. 31 – Like He did to King Hezekiah – But when envoys was sent by rulers of Babylon to ask him, about his miraculous sign that had occurred in the Land; God left him to test him and know everything that was in his heart. Hezekiah had enjoyed a close relationship with God and like me, at a crucial point in His life God allowed him to be alone to test his character. I realise that God does this for me in order to reveal weakness and to prepare me for more responsibility. The realization that my life is a test forces me to understand that nothing that happens to me is insignificant, but compulsory for my development. However I must bear in mind that God intends for me to pass the tests – 1 Corinth. 10 vs. 13 – No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Each time we overcome a test we are rewarded – James 1 vs. 12 – Blessed if the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised those who love him. My Life is also a TRUST thing. Everything we posses on this earth, all our resources are all gifts entrusted to us by God to manage well. For the bible tells us – Psalm 24 vs. 1 – The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. It is God’s property which has been entrusted in our care. 1 Corinth. 4 vs. 7 – For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? – And so with the knowledge that God owns all, I must learn to appreciate the benefits, but also take the best care of it that I can – I Corinth. 4 vs. 2 – Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. And we are reminded the importance of trust and its rewards in Matt. 25 vs. 21 – Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things – I will put you in charge of many things – come and share in your master’s happiness. A reminder that at the end of my time on this earth, my life will be evaluated and rewarded according to what I did with what God entrusted to me.

Now if I then treat all things the Lord has given me in trust well, not only will He give me His affirmation, but I will also receive a promotion – and will have greater responsibility in eternity. Luke 16 vs. 11 – so if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with riches – riches here meaning heavenly eternal riches. Luke 12 vs. 48 - says From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Lessons Learnt on Day 5

That my life is a test and a trust. That unless I can be trusted with the little, I can also be trusted with much – however if I’m dishonest with the little I’m entrusted with, I will also be dishonest in much – Luke 16 vs. 10. After spending this day with Him I realise that I haven’t been handling my tests very well – Have failed woefully – I pray therefore that I will be more like Joseph, Ester, Ruth, Daniel and countless others that passed their tests when they were faced with them.

Ask me again what my view on life is – my response – My test is still ongoing, but my view on it has changed.

4 comments:

LondonBuki said...

Life truly is a test... every single day.

I like this idea LOASCM... God bless you and thanks for sharing with us.

Jennifer A. said...

Hmmm..."if I can be trusted in little, then I can be trusted in much." Thanks for reminding me abt that scripture, when I had very little (in a certain area), I used to repeat that to myself a lot. But it seems that I have now started forgetting...I don't want to forget, God help me in little so You can trust me once more with much!

Vera Ezimora said...

Yes, we are all stil being tested. But it is up 2 us to take it the way we want to

The Life of a Stranger called me said...

@LB - it really is - its all about the passmark you get - and how you go about getting the corrections. But I thank god that he will never let us fail or questions we will struggle to find the corrections for.

@jaycee - God indeed help us all as we try and maximise what he has given to us so we can work our way to the much.

@vera - Really its all about how we choose to prepare for it and work to making sure our answers are acceptable. I.e. how do we choose to go about it.