Many of you believe your life is not ideal, let alone “the best” life you could ever imagine. But, that is why this time on Latter Rain, the post will be discussing what “best” truly means and as to how we should perceive our own lives. Because the way you make use of your own life is imperative to your mental health and every other aspect of your life. So, continue reading to learn more.
A Choice to Make
The “best” life you could possibly imagine is often far from what we actually imagine. Our imaginations often host a multitude of possible scenarios which we so yearn to be ours. But, our lives usually don’t end up the way we envision things. That’s just the way life works.
Some issues we face in life are the results of our failures whereas other challenges come our way regardless of the actions we take. Again, that’s just the way life works.
However, in this post, I propose the idea that your life can at any point of time become the best life you could possibly imagine. Now, I know that is a difficult notion to believe wholeheartedly. Nevertheless, this is what the Christian worldview supports.
It is your choice to make, as to whether you want the best life you could possibly have, or if you want something less than that. It is up to you.
So, let the scriptures do the talking. During Jesus Christ’s ministry, as He was walking with His disciples, He came across a man born blind. And Jesus’ disciples ask Him a very odd question.
John 9:2 World English Bible (WEB)
2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
The reason as to why this question is so ridiculous and yet, captures human nature so well, is because it deals with judgement and irrationality. Concerning judgement, people want to assign a blame to a particular being when dealing with a mess, hence the question. Concerning irrationality, how in the world, could a man commit a sin so that he is born blind? If he was born blind, he did not even have a chance to commit a sin to earn him the blindness!
Continuing on, let’s see Jesus’ response to this question…
Shifting Gears from Earth to Heaven
John 9:3-5 World English Bible (WEB)
3 Jesus answered, “This man didn’t sin, nor did his parents; but, that the works of God might be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
As it turns out, no person is responsible for the man’s suffering. His condition is not divine retribution for an error on his part or his parents’ part. Instead, Jesus says that the works of God should be revealed in him.
So, does Jesus mean that He (God) made the man suffer blind his entire life just so He could heal him? I don’t think so. I think this man’s blindness is traceable to the fall of Adam and Eve, the fall of humanity where mankind opened the door for sickness to ravage mankind.
But, Jesus, being God in the flesh, made it His mission to reverse the curse. He went about healing the sick, delivering the captives, and forgiving the sinners. He was revealing His love and these were the works of God which were being made manifest.
We should not look at the mess in our lives and play the blame game. Instead, we should realize the model Jesus Christ left for us. He said in verse 5, that He is the light of the world while He is in the world. And the role of light is not to find out why darkness is darkness, its role is to light up its environment, to eliminate the darkness. So now, our responsibility is to be the light He calls us to be.
Matthew 5:14 World English Bible (WEB)
14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.
The Best Life in Front of Us
If you really, really want to find a reason as to why bad things happen, then assign it a new purpose. Say to yourself that the purpose for your mess is so that God can clean it up and be glorified. That’s what Jesus did.
John 9:3 World English Bible (WEB)
3 Jesus answered, “This man didn’t sin, nor did his parents; but, that the works of God might be revealed in him.
The last thing God wants to do is to play the blame game. Humans are very fond of that particular game because of the wicked human heart.
Jeremiah 17:9 King James Version (KJV)
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Thus, how do you be the light Jesus called you to be, when your heart is desperately wicked? The solution is to surrender your heart and all its desires to the Lord Jesus Christ. All you need to do is to confess with your mouth and believe in your heart (to redeem it) that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Saviour.
Now, something I did not mention earlier was that the religious leaders did not like it when Jesus healed this blind man. They missed the entire picture and these same people later on, urged the Roman government to execute Jesus in the most inhumane way, crucifixion.
Matthew 27:35-36 World English Bible (WEB)
35 When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots,36 and they sat and watched him there.
And even though, Jesus, being God, could have stopped it, His crucifixion was part of His mission, so that as He died and rose again, His life could enter you and the divine punishment for your mess ups would be on Him, instead. Now, His light is in you. I talk more about it in this post.
Matthew 5:16 World English Bible (WEB)
16 Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Therefore, don’t exhaust your brain with the various reasons as to why you or someone else is suffering. Instead, seek your Heavenly Father, and love Him. If you want a reason for your temporary suffering, then make it a purpose that God will intervene and make some good come out of it. And just be the person who, like the formerly blind man, worships Jesus in appreciation, admiration, and love for being the compassionate God He truly is. A life with Him is the best life you could possibly imagine!
John 9:35-38 World English Bible (WEB)
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”
36 He answered, “Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?”
37 Jesus said to him, “You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you.”
38 He said, “Lord, I believe!” and he worshiped him.
By Andre Wijesekera
