I am tempted to say that I am not genuinely afraid about anything, but that isnt true. My main fear now is isgnificance. I am afraid, to put it simply, of living a life that doesnt matter. I am afraid of leaving the wiorld exactly as I found it, no different of me being here.
A lot of people say something like that these days. But they thing "having lived" means having a lot of adventure or a lot of fun or money. I dont think that has much to do with it. Significant living comes from filling your life with things which last forever. Thats why the usual things people seek to gaurantee importance in their lives - money, fame , power, - dont work very well. They all come to an end, often during the persons own life, and certainly thereafter.
What are things that last forever? Justice, Mercy, Forgiveness, Compassion, and Grace are a few. Truth also lasts forever. These are all forms of the greatest value of all - love!! And as you know, the source and perfect giver of love is God!
If I want my life to count, to be significant, then I will try to fill it as much as possible with these attitudes and actions.... If you have made someone elses life better, you have done something eternal. and that means that a significant life will usually have lots of people in it. Because people are the only part of this world that will last forever....
THis world is filled with threats, some imagined some real to our safety , to our sence of being okay. THe ultimate security, the only true safety is to be in a relationship with the God who is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He was there before the beginning. He has no end. He has seen and suffered all. He knows our fears. He sets us free!
Hebrews 2:10-18
10In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. 12He says,
"I will declare your name to my brothers;
in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises."[a] 13And again,
"I will put my trust in him." And again he says,
"Here am I, and the children God has given me."[c]
14Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for[d]the sins of the people. 18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
1 John 4:18
18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
A lot of people say something like that these days. But they thing "having lived" means having a lot of adventure or a lot of fun or money. I dont think that has much to do with it. Significant living comes from filling your life with things which last forever. Thats why the usual things people seek to gaurantee importance in their lives - money, fame , power, - dont work very well. They all come to an end, often during the persons own life, and certainly thereafter.
What are things that last forever? Justice, Mercy, Forgiveness, Compassion, and Grace are a few. Truth also lasts forever. These are all forms of the greatest value of all - love!! And as you know, the source and perfect giver of love is God!
If I want my life to count, to be significant, then I will try to fill it as much as possible with these attitudes and actions.... If you have made someone elses life better, you have done something eternal. and that means that a significant life will usually have lots of people in it. Because people are the only part of this world that will last forever....
THis world is filled with threats, some imagined some real to our safety , to our sence of being okay. THe ultimate security, the only true safety is to be in a relationship with the God who is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He was there before the beginning. He has no end. He has seen and suffered all. He knows our fears. He sets us free!
Hebrews 2:10-18
10In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. 12He says,
"I will declare your name to my brothers;
in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises."[a] 13And again,
"I will put my trust in him." And again he says,
"Here am I, and the children God has given me."[c]
14Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for[d]the sins of the people. 18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
1 John 4:18
18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
