What Is Your Good Life?

I am still confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13)

We hear the phrase used over and over: “Living the good life.” But what does living the good life really mean to you? Is it a life of abundant possessions and material comfort? Is it a life of extravagance and ease? Is it something that is only available to those who have fame and fortune? Is it an address in Beverly Hills? What is the one thing in your life that you tell yourself would make you feel happy, fulfilled, and satisfied?

Whatever you believe will provide you with “the good life” will ultimately rule your heart and shape your life. Your picture of the good life impacts your daily decisions, both large and small. Ultimately you will tend to judge God’s goodness in your life by whether or not you receive this “good life” from Him.

But this is not for you! God often refuses to give us what we want because there are so many times when what we want is not God’s best for us. We must remember that God always directs our lives in a way that is ultimately good, even when — especially when — it doesn’t feel good to us at that moment. You see, God is freeing us from the constricted confines of our definition of the good life and inviting us into His goodness, which transcends the here and now. Because God is always good and is always working everything together for our good, we must keep our focus on Him if we are going to experience the good life He has planned for us.

The good that God promises to provide all of His children is not something, but Someone, and His name is Jesus Christ. The ultimate good in this life is an intimate, personal, right relationship with Jesus. Without Jesus, nothing is good. With Jesus, you need nothing else to experience the good life.

Got Jesus?

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!