What Would Life Be Without Jesus?

I love to ask little kids, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” When I was little, the typical answers were:

• fireman
• nurse
• veterinarian

Wanna know what I wanted to be? A wife and mom. That’s it. That’s all. That was enough.

One morning last month, I woke up and was astounded at God’s blessings in my life—so much more than I could ever have asked or imagined. I am a wife and mom, but I’ve had rich experiences in so many other things…

I’ve worked for a bank and at a gas station convenience store. I worked part-time for an optometrist, then for an ophthalmologist, and then I was an administrative assistant for a Christian speaker. Not exactly the typical career path for a biblical fiction author, right?

Take a moment right now and examine your life. Let yourself be amazed at how you got where you are today. Look at the people and things God has placed in your life—good and bad, past and present—and before you read on, consider…

How utterly meaningless everything would be without God in your life.

Meaningless, Meaningless, All Things Are Meaningless

I sound a little like King Solomon, don’t I?

“‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless. What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.’”

Ecclesiastes 1:2-4 (emphasis added)

But seriously, that’s what I woke up thinking that morning, absolutely thrilled with the blessings God had given on this earth (under the sun)—family, home, jobs—but realizing none of it held any true meaning apart from my relationship with Jesus. Without a living, vibrant, growing relationship with the Creator of all things, these blessings would turn into empty duties with burdensome responsibilities.

However, because of my relationship with the eternal God, my family, home, and job can always be rich and full of life, love, and everlasting significance. Notice, I said they can be. There are definitely times when I seem to forget that crucial eternal perspective.

The New Me

When I asked myself what life would be like without Jesus, something in me shifted. I’ve been a Christian since I was nineteen. Some of you have believed in Jesus even longer than I have. It’s hard to imagine what life would be like without Him.

But try.

Only when I remember my B.C. (Before Christ) days can I fully appreciate the changes His presence brought. Only when we plumb the depths of life without Christ can we celebrate the overwhelming gift of His presence.

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”        Ephesians 4:22-24

If the old me had fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, POTS, and daily migraines, I wouldn’t have any reason to get out of bed. But because I serve a risen Savior, I know that He can use even my smallest contribution to encourage others to trust in His good plan for their lives. The old me would be discouraged—maybe even bitter or angry—that my kids and grandkids live so far away, but the Jesus-loving me sees the amazing opportunities my kids have been given to stretch and grow in their own relationships with Jesus because they’re far away and have to lean on Him alone.

How Will You Live?

Each one reading this post has a choice to make.

Consider how your life would be without Jesus…and then live differently today because you love Him!

It’s so very simple, but not always easy. If life feels burdensome, check your perspective. Perhaps the old self is sneaking in the back door to steal your eternal perspective.

Tweet-A-Licious!

• Only when we consider life without Christ can we see the overwhelming gift of His presence.
• Consider how life would be without Jesus, and then live differently today because you love Him!
• If life feels burdensome, perhaps the old self has stolen your eternal perspective.

Today’s Question:

• What feels burdensome today, and how can the reality of eternity with Jesus lighten that load?