The Essence Of Living

How are you living?

This week has been one of those weeks that has truly made me reflect on this question. This past Sunday I received news that three freshman college students had died returning to school (University of Mississippi) there was no alcohol nor drugs involved according to police, just a tragic accident.

The story which obviously drew much attention and made local headlines was devastating news to one of our young people (and his family) in my church. He grew up with these boys and one was like his brother. 

The same day that thousands were paying there respects and saying there farewells to these three men, I was performing a funeral service for a man who had lived to be 87 years old.

How do we explain this? It's the age old question, one that we just don't have an answer for. Why God would allow three young men to die and devastate an entire community and others live well into there late 80's.

Then as I was preparing for the committal these words came to my mind (don't remember where it came from or who may have said it):

"The essence of man is not simply about how long we live but how well we live." 

As Christians we understand that our faith must be in Jesus even in times when we don't have an explanation, or at least not one that will perhaps satisfy us. We live in an imperfect world, a world of sin, which we believe that Jesus will one day come and make things new.

Yet in the mean time...Are we living well?

Are we living well with our family? Are we living well with our friends? Our neighbors? Are we living well with our church family (if you go to church)? 

Above all, are we living well before God?

I don't know how long it will be until Jesus comes (we've been saying soon for a long time), I don't know how long I will live. Yet there is something that I know. 

I want to live well...

What about you?

Javi