To Serve is to Live | WR
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Let us bring glory to God and all He has done for us.
We've been sold a lie. One that sounds good but slowly rots us from within. It's been so normalized that it's part of the culture. It’s all around us in media, entertainment, and education. It’s a dominant force.
The idea that happiness and fulfillment is found through the pursuit of pleasures for ourselves.
I spent most of my life chasing this illusion and it nearly cost me my life. Luckily, God reached out with His loving hand and corrected my course. I was on the path of self-destruction and didn't know it.
So many of us find ourselves in the same boat. Trapped by the cycle of consumption. Slaves to the hedonic treadmill of self-service.
This is all intentional.
It's designed to separate us from Christ and the world God created.
The Fall
The Biblical story of the fall is well known. Adam and Eve took a bite of the apple from the Tree of Knowledge and became aware of things not known to them prior. It changed the trajectory of humanity as it took us out of a state of innocence, where we walked with God on Earth, and put us on the path of destruction.
In that moment, humanity separated from God's way and decided we knew better. Of course, with the influence of the great deceiver, Satan, we bought the lie that we didn't need God.
We can become gods ourselves.
This action still ripples throughout our world today.
The Bible is not some old book.
It is a living text God has provided us to navigate a fallen world. Without its power and knowledge, we are extremely vulnerable in this world.
Because of this lack of awareness, we become susceptible to the influence of darkness in our world, which has manifested the destructive philosophy of self-service disguised as freedom and empowerment.
I fell for all of this.
I spent almost 10 years in California pursuing this materialistic dream of freedom. I was never more depressed, isolated, and destructive living this way.
Everyone around me was doing the same, so it was normal.
But normal does not mean it's good for us.
The Lie of Freedom
The way this captures us is the same way Adam and Eve fell for the lie. Believing life outside of God and His rules is "liberation." This is a deceptive ploy to take us from God's Kingdom and under the rule of rebellion.
This is the dominant way of thinking in our world today.
Pursue your dreams. Hustle and grind to freedom. Live your best life. Follow your bliss. Be a boss.
All these different phrases push us to serve ourselves and our desires. This is a death trap. We will never be fulfilled by pursuing endless desires of the self. It's an infinite path that leads to the same empty and lifeless destination.
Only through service of others do we find purpose.
Only through surrendering do we find freedom.
Only through God and Christ do we find life.
The True Path of Fulfillment
Despite all the selfish ways the world pushes us to live, the path to a wonderful life is found through service to others. Putting the needs of others ahead of our own.
This doesn't mean we neglect our well-being, but it does mean the focus shifts to helping others and not simply pursuing endless desires.
Mark 10:45:
"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."
The greatest man to walk this earth, the one who was God in human flesh, is telling us the key to a great life.
It's not found in:
Money
Wealth
Fame
Pleasure
Materialism
A great life is designed by service to others. Jesus is the model. He is who we seek to emulate. Jesus demonstrated service to others His whole life. This brought Him great peace and fulfillment.
He took delight in serving His heavenly Father by serving his fellow brothers and sisters of life.
We can do the same.
We do the opposite now. Are we really surprised so many of us are sad and depressed?
The more we seek to fill the void with pleasures and desires, the wider the gap becomes for a fulfilling life. We lose what God has given us—the heart of a servant.
Radical Change
We need a big cultural shift to course-correct the disastrous path we're on. The industrial, centralized model of production is failing. God is calling us back to the land. Back to nature. Back to life as He intended.
We must each pick up our cross and carry it in the world. We must call on God as a light to guide our every step. We desperately need to change our ways and follow Him.
God's grace is wonderful, but we can't ignore this call forever. The world is changing. Struggle is our future unless we return to the ways God calls us to live.
The Bible shows us the way. Jesus lives and walks with us today. The Holy Spirit will guide every moment. All we must do is open our hearts and invite God back into our lives.
Let us learn to walk with Jesus.
There is no past that is too dark and unclean that can't be washed clean by the life and power of Christ. We all have this incredible potential within us, and it is all given by our Creator.
Now is the time to embrace this life and bring God back to our world.
God's love and mercy is boundless. Let us serve Him with full hearts.
Don't underestimate the power God holds.