Today is our final installment of a three-part series on self-examination, inspired by Paul’s exhortation in 1 Corinthians 11:28, “Let a person examine himself and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” On Monday we examined the motivation of the heart—the why behind what you do. On Wednesday we explored one of the most important areas in all of life: relationships. Today we will conclude with a discussion of “transcendence,” with the goal of determining if you are pursuing it in a God-centered way.
So what is this thing called transcendence? For our purposes, the word transcendence is used in reference to God’s relation to the world. He is above, beyond, and completely outside of the ordinary. Being made in God’s image, man is hard-wired for transcendence—living above, beyond, and outside the borders of our lives. It is stamped into the DNA of every human being to transcend the boundaries of simply “making a living” and “getting through the week” just to “chill out on the weekend.” We were made for so much more than simply living for ourselves! Because the One who made you is larger than life, you are to live for something larger than life. In other words, you are called to live a life that is sold-out for the Savior.
So how are you doing in the area of transcendence? What have you been living for? What would those closest to you say about you? We were made by God and made for God; we were NOT designed to live for something as small as the tiny kingdom of you. Too many Christians get caught up in the “rat race” of life, never realizing that even if they win the race . . . they’re still a rat! Transcendent living raises us above the mundane, carries us beyond the meaningless, and delivers us outside of man-centered living. God has designed you for greatness—not “greatness” as the world defines it, but as God defines it. Greatness is refusing to live for anything smaller than God. Greatness is having God both at the center and circumference of your life. He is your everything, in the most important areas of life as well as in the most mundane. Do we dare settle for anything less than transcendent living? May God forbid it!
The world says, “Live for yourself,” which is actually death. God says, “Die to yourself” (see Matthew 16:24 and 1 Peter 2:24, for example), which is actually life . . . abundant life . . . a life of transcendence. A transcendent life is a life shaped by the Savior, grown by grace, and set apart for selfless service of God and others. This is not the narrow field of “leaving a legacy” that many speak about today. God created us, not for leaving our personal legacy but to expand His under the lordship of Jesus Christ. When we understand our lives to be all about Him rather than us, we are freed to live for something bigger than ourselves. Only transcendent living provides the necessary meaning, significance, and purpose that every human being craves from the cradle to the grave.
Does transcendence mark your life? What gets you up early? What drives you to give it all you have with all you have been given? Never settle for less than what you have been created for! I don’t know if God has called you to be a butcher, baker, or candlestick maker. What I do know is that He has called you to do whatever you are doing for His glory and His glory alone. God is on a mission of making all things new, and He has called us to be part of this “above and beyond” process.
This is transcendent living. This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 