Don’t think so much about who is for or against you, rather give all your care that God be with you in everything you do. Thomas Kempis, 1379-1471, German Monk
The awakening starts with questions, a waking mind demands answers and the stride of time continues on the quest of finding solutions day after day.Yes, we pack quite a lot into our daily routines, not necessarily with commitment but with the eager desire to complete and achieve. As we spearhead duties and work on challenges, thoughts focused on creating happiness for ourselves, we forget the simple truth that we cannot find happiness; it is happiness that finds us.
In this secular lifestyle of power, pleasure, fun and belonging, much is geared to do what makes us feel good. In this secular society, happiness becomes the aim of life. But the question raised is “ At what cost?” Jesus said in Matt 5:8 “ Blessed are the pure in heart”. The word blessed means happy, so in life happiness is found in holiness. It is the longing to live a life of purity, rightly related to God, self and others.
As we draw focus on the day, on our responsibilities, on our achievements, on our goals, we realize much is at stake – too much in fact to let the concept of holiness and righteousness question our every action. We forget we are passing through a mock exercise called earthly life in order to reach the reality of heavenly living. But the world, it does not have time for all this, as one says life is a journey and continue we must striving consistently to achieve. Much is veiled in this statement of purpose, but we as Christians are drawn not to the riches of achieving but to the savior on the cross.
In a corporate world of power, three men were chosen to head divisions of importance. Even as they walked the path of success, they failed not to be governed by the virtue of godly living. Time was a crowning event in their lives, until the shadow of peer jealousy loomed large enough to bring them to the corridors of ruin itself. They have led and lived a life committed to the holy God, but now it conflicted with the brand image of the corporate culture. Facing the wrath of the top man himself, they still chose the life of condemnation rather than be one more of the walkers of a secular life of wrongs. The anger burned hot in flames and these three who strived to live a life of truth and holiness were bound and thrown into the fires of death. Daniel 3 opens out to us the love of a holy God who rewards all those who continue to walk in His ways daily, even in the face of destruction, disappointment and failure.
We are called to a life of truth, a life of faithful commitment to a God of providence. To be honest, the life we live is definitely one, buffeted by the rewards of temptation. But the questions we need to ask ourselves, as we take upon task after task,” is this right?, would it be correct in the eyes of God?, am I pleasing God or hurting him by doing this?”. We are put in a secular world, a place that looks at us for examples, yet is ready to find faults and cause us grief. So though many a time we may have to sacrifice easy riches and pleasant dreams come true, we end up being blessed.
So let us look upon the sinless one, who lived very much in a corrupt, pleasure-seeking world, charting out a course of righteous living, deeply bonded with the Father and taking on all the forces of worldly conjure with pure holiness. We have a choice every waking moment to choose, so lets choose wisely. Psalms 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
May His blessings be on you.
Firmly in His grip
Ashley J P
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