This is the third and final part of this awesome series! Take a look (or a listen) at parts 1 and 2 if you missed them or need a refresher.
Word of the week: Debauchery. Look it up (it's summer, don't let your brain turn to mush).
Moving on. One of the best things about young kids is their simple vocabulary. The first word they learn (and use incessantly) is “no!” followed soon after by “mine!”
Most people think they want to be a little kid again, with all the simplicity and no stress, but the truth is kids have no control over their own lives. Because they have so little control, when they actually get some they like to keep it. At all costs.
The interesting thing about watching 2 year olds is that you can see the same behavior displayed in adults – just slightly stylized. The basic attitudes and behaviors are the same from age two to adult. As you get older you get used to having more and more control, and the new, more sophisticated versions of “mine!” and “no!” continue to come out. “It's my life, I'll do what I want!” is the adult version of “mine!”
Check out what Jesus said in John 10:10:
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Tonight we're talking about the 2nd Best Life.
There are two different types of people we're going to address in this:
1. Those who think life their way is better. They are gonna have fun no matter what, their way.
2. Those who live their lives for Christ, but wonder; is the other group having more fun?
Group #2: You don't cheat on your test, talk back to your parents, steal stuff, do drugs, etc. But you look at group #1, and you wonder if it really is more fun to live that way. You might think, “Am I missing out? Am I just wasting my time?”
Take a look at Matthew 16:21-23. Jesus said to Peter, “You are a dangerous trap to me!” Why would what Peter said be a trap to Jesus? How could he be trapped by that? Because that's what He wanted. He didn't want to die! Seeing things from a human point of view – that's the trap!
In verses 24-25 Jesus explains.
That's the truth. It's not a metaphor. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But, if you give up your life for Christ you will find true life!
This is one of the main themes of Pastor Dan's ministry and life. Every time he preaches on it, God shows him more. He is passionate about it! The thing which breaks Pastor Dan's heart is people that reject God – they've met Him, known Him and yet they reject Him.
In the end, what it came down to is they wanted to have their own way. That old familiar “Mine!” “No!”
Jesus said, “If you give up your life for me, you'll save it.” But that doesn't sound appealing. It means giving up control.
The thing that people don't understand is that both choices cost you your life – you spend it getting your way. At the end it's gone. You have nothing to show for it.
Or you can spend your life living for Christ. Either way it's gone, over. What makes the first option inferior is that what your life buys is death. The only thing you are left with is death. Not always physical death – there are other kinds of death. It's like saving up for something, finally buying it and finding it's broken – it's useless, pointless. The wages of sin is death, pain, depression, liver failure, STDs, poverty, loneliness, addiction. It's all death.
The best life is the best because what you have at the end is the indestructible, eternal life of Jesus Christ.
Living for Christ means, well, living for Christ. It means you might feel embarrassed sometimes. It means not saying, “Mine!” and “No!” but saying “Yours!” and “Yes!”.
So for those in the second group, those that are wondering: the only thing you're missing out on is death. Destruction. That's why it's called a trap – it lures you in and destroys you.
Full, satisfying, significant life comes from God – not college, a career, a needle, a bottle, sex, paying taxes, getting a car, Social Security or that guy or girl.
It only comes from God: Christ's life is the 1st best life.
And he offers us a trade: our 2nd best leading-to-death life for his best, eternal life. That's a pretty good trade!
Check out Isaiah 29:15-16.
The wording is pretty straightforward, huh? The point is that God sees the whole picture, He knows what's best for you. But you have to make the choice – God's best life in exchange for yours? Or will you try to control it yourself, in your own adult way screaming “Mine!” “No!”
Trust God with your life. Live your life for Him. Not merely in the absence of lying and stealing, but truly living for Him. Making choices and plans by Him. It's a choice you will make not just once but everyday – sometimes many times a day.
But you can trust Him to make something beautiful out of your life. Choose the best life!
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Awesome Message! Thanks! :-)
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