Don't Waste Your Life

"Standing on the side of the road; I lifted up my foot and realized I had somehow landed upright after being thrown out of the car that was still rolling down the embankment. A dent was left in the ground where my feet landed and I was in shock. I turned to look for the girl that had also been thrown out of the car and found her; not responding...with paramedics circled around her. Life flashed before my eyes as one daunting question invaded my mind, "Why are you still alive? What have you done so far to deserve to still be standing here? You have been wasting your life."

[this is a paraphrase from Heath Budden who shared his testimony last week]

We are starting a new study and are going through the book, Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper. For those of you who are not a regular part of the study but are interested.... know that at any point you'd be able to join us Sunday nights as we will be going through questions and Bible passages brought up in the study guide each week over each chapter. I will be using this blog as a place to provide a short summary of the material we will be going over and post videos and other provoking materials to get you thinking and being challenged to live our lives purposefully for Christ.

[excerpt from study guide]
"It is our conviction that God did indeed create us for more than the American Dream. Nevertheless, millions of people waste their lives in pursuit of the vain trappings of this world because they never discover the simple, obvious, glorious, biblical reality that "[God's] steadfast love is better than life" (Psalm 63:3) They are never gripped by thte truth that "to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21). The awesome biblical promise that "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14) has never landed on them by the power of the Holy Spirit and awakened them to a passion for God's supremacy in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ."

So this is the challenge placed before us, to take a moment to think about our existence on this earth and to consider why were created. What, in your mind is the difference between a wasted life and an un-wasted life? Will the plans that you have made for your life be of any value to God?

Acts 20:24 says, "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."

If it is true that only what is done for Christ will last (check out 1 Cor. 3:10-13) then what kind of changes do you think might be necessary in your life?