Jump Start # 915

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

I went to a Styx concert recently. The guys can still play after all these years. There was a line in one of their songs that stuck with me. It’s from their song, “Pieces of eight.” The song begins,

“It’s six o’clock

Good morning sounds are everywhere.

The warmth of spring, a gentle breeze blows through my hair.

I hurry through my life never stopping to see,

How beautiful it was meant to be.”

I hurry through my life never stopping to see, how beautiful it was meant to be! Life is meant to be beautiful. The fast pace, the full schedules, the stress, the chaos can make us miss how beautiful life was meant to be. Does that hit you?

Jesus came not just so we could have an amazing life in eternity, but to bring the abundant life now. “I came that they may have life…” Many exist, a few live. Many go through the motions, a few actually live. The abundant life begins with forgiveness and a journey with God that is full of purpose, direction and destination. With Jesus, life is more than just getting things and being happy. It is seeing, using the phrase from Styx, ‘how beautiful it was meant to be.’

Lets focus on that beautiful life in Jesus. What’s there? What’s so appealing about it? Some don’t see it. They see rules and church and watching what you say and sitting through stuffy sermons and restrictions. Like a little boy wearing a dress shirt and tie at a wedding, he pulls and stretches the collar constantly, and is most miserable. This is the concept some have of Christianity. A beautiful life is not the words that they would use to describe it. I doubt the boys in Styx had a walk with Jesus in mind when they penned those words. For many, the beautiful life would consist of freedom, doing whatever you want, and especially, not having anyone else telling you what to do. That is not beauty and is a cover for reckless sin that leaves a trail of pain, addictions, and misery.

What is beautiful about the walk with Jesus?

It begins with realizing that the God of Heaven and Earth loves you. He really loves you. The governor of my state doesn’t even know that I exist. He doesn’t know my name and he never thinks of me, calls me, invites me. I do not exist to the governor. The same goes for the mayor. The same goes for the President. Yet, with God it’s different. As busy as God is, as many other people more important than me, with greater needs than me, God still thinks about me, loves me and invites me to walk daily with Him. How beautiful that is. I am never alone, God is with me. I have the greatest help with God. That tends to evaporate fears, troubles and worry. God is with me and wants to be there. Amazing. What a beautiful life.

I am surrounded by the greatest virtues of character, when I am walking with God. Grace, forgiveness, peace, joy, purpose. These attributes belong to God. They are blessings upon us. We tend to think of blessings in terms of sunshine, jobs and food in our belly. The best blessing cannot be seen with our eyes. These are the characteristics of God that He shares with us. To be forgiven is powerful. Gone are the wrongs, the mistakes, the sins that hurt others and angered God. Gone. Gone forever. Washed clean by the blood of Jesus. What a beautiful life to be loved and to be forgiven. A second chance. A chance to do things right this time.

In our hands is placed the greatest plan, words and hope this world has ever seen—the Bible. What a blessing that we do not have to try to “find or figure” God out. He reveals. He tells. He shows. With this powerful book, we know. We know where we came from. We know where we are going. We know what we are supposed to do. We know our place. We know His place. What a beautiful life to be guided in the right direction.

With us are the greatest people on the face of the earth, God’s people. They come from all walks of life. Some are just as simple and common as they come, but they shine because of God. They have a goodness and a real sense of concern about them. They are special, to God and to us. They are there when you need them. They care. They support. They defend. They love. God’s people all around us, reminding us that we are not alone. We are not the only ones who are trying to do right. The world is not completely gone. What a beautiful life to have God’s people in your life and counted upon as dear, dear friends.

What a beautiful life to worship God. How amazing it is that He listens to us. How wonderful it is that He likes our singing, especially those of us that can’t sing well. He wants us to remember His son’s death. He wants us to praise Him. Worship is good and right. It brings God back into our world and our life. Worship is much more than “going to church,” or, “do I have to go,” thinking. Worship is exciting and rich with joy and love as we get to spend time with God. What a blessing that is.

What a beautiful life…and I haven’t even said anything about Heaven. I wonder, like Styx sang, if I hurry through my life, never stopping to see, how beautiful it was meant to be. When you do stop and see it, it makes you thank God. It makes you realize things aren’t so bad. It makes you realize, I am blessed and I wouldn’t trade places with anyone.

How beautiful life was meant to be…

Roger