By Chris WittsWednesday 1 Mar 2023Morning Devotions with Chris WittsFaithReading Time: 1 minute
Transcript:
Sometimes we need to stop and ask ourselves, What’s really important in my life?. We can live each day not worrying about the future, or thinking we’ll concern ourselves about the bigger issues of life sometime in the future. But on occasions, things happen to us which bring us up with a jolt. For example, a routine visit to the doctor reveals a hidden lump or possible cancer, and our life suddenly becomes more focused.
Someone refers to this as a ‘clarifying moment’—a time when we stop perhaps in shock to think, What’s going on with me? I think that many people who have these ‘clarifying moments’ sense a strong desire to make the most of their lives. They know better now not to take anything for granted.
They don’t want to waste any time, because they are acutely aware that the clock is ticking. They’re focused, knowing clearly that each day is a precious gift. So, it’s helpful to ask the question ‘what’s really important to my life?’ Who or what is the director of your life? Is time or money the encouragement and limitation of your life? Or maybe it is other people’s expectations. Are the expectations that everyone has of you directing your life? What about shame and disappointment?
What is Directing your Life?
Are these directing your life, preventing you from going out, or going up, or going forward? Maybe hurt and anger are directing your life. Could this be keeping you from having the life God intends for you? Is your spouse or your family directing your life? Maybe you’re still trying to live up to your father’s expectation for you? Or maybe the implied demands of your family are keeping you from being free to hear God and his call, his place, his purpose for your life? Are you directing your life? Most of us think this is the goal—that we be the directors of our own lives.
I read somewhere that Dr Billy Graham was honoured by community leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina. Many nice things were said about him, and when Billy Graham stepped up to the rostrum to speak he said this:
I’m reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist honoured by Time magazine as the ‘Man of the Century’. Einstein was once travelling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of each passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his other pocket. It wasn’t there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn’t find it. Then he looked in the seat by him. He couldn’t find it.
The conductor said, “Dr Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it.” Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket. The conductor rushed back. “Dr Einstein, don’t worry,” he said. “I know who you are. No problem. You don’t need a ticket. I’m sure you bought one.” Einstein then said, “Young man, I, too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going!”
Billy Graham then said to the crowd:
See the suit I’m wearing? I bought it for this luncheon and one more occasion. This is the suit in which I’ll be buried. But when you hear I’m dead, I don’t want you to remember the suit I’m wearing. I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am, I also know where I’m going.
What a great lesson about one man who knows what is important in life, and to have the assurance that everything is OK for him.
God Wants Your Whole Life
What does God want from my life? When you read through the Bible,you can summarize the answer to this question fairly simply: God wants your whole life. There is not a single verse in the Bible, not one, that says you can be a Christian and live your life any way you want. It’s just not there. God wants all of you. He doesn’t want 10% of you. God doesn’t want 50% of you. He doesn’t want 99% of you. God desires all of you.
C. S. Lewis once said, “The only thing Christianity cannot be is moderately important.” You see, if the good news of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is really true, then he deserves everything you’ve got.
The only thing Christianity cannot be is moderately important. It’s either all or nothing. It’s either true, and that should determine the rest of your life, or you should just go and do whatever you want to do.