Daily Jewel

by Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK
Sept. 12, 2011

“A Life Well Lived”
“Good friend, don’t forget all I’ve taught you; take to heart my commands. They’ll help you live a long, long time, a long life lived full and well."- Proverbs 3:1 (The Message)

I saw a figure not too long ago that says Americans spend an estimated $25 billion each year on products that “supposedly” make us look younger or keep us feeling younger. Cosmetic surgery continues to be a popular device for many – just ask Joan Rivers. Ponce de Leon’s legendary “Fountain of Youth” is alive and well in America! Solomon had the solution to a long life a long, long time ago. And he says it right here. It is by holding to the principles and guidelines prescribed by the Maker of Life. Since He knows how and why we were made it only stands to reason that He would know the best way for us to live. Notice the words in the verse, “life lived full and well!” Now, unfortunately, I must add this disclaimer – we are not guaranteed a certain number of years upon this earth! Nowhere have I found that place that says the number of my days will be…(fill in the blank!) If you knew you had only a certain time to live, what would you do with those final days? Would you spend them living wildly – fulfilling every dream or fantasy? Or would you spend that time seeing to it that all of life’s “loose-ends” have been tied? A few years ago the United States Army introduced a new recruiting slogan. It’s part of a $200-million-a-year advertising campaign to introduce the Army’s latest theme: “Army Strong.” Personally, I liked the former slogan: “Be All You Can Be.” It reminds me of a story about a mother whose teenage son was not performing well in school. She obtained a bumper sticker at the Army Recruiting Office with those words on it. She edited it and posted it on her son’s bulletin board in his bedroom. The revised version read, “Be All You Can Be, or You Will Be in the Army.”

I think the Apostle Paul would have embraced the “Be all you can be” concept. He personified it in his own life. Listen to what he wrote to his friend, Timothy (2nd Timothy 4:6-8):

“The time of my death is near. I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that great day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his glorious return.”

The life we have been given has never been about staying young. Nor is it about trying to outlive everyone. It is about living it to the fullest extent! I tend to overuse this reference but I cannot allow this to escape our notice here when Jesus said in the book of John, “I have come that they (meaning us) may have life and have it to the full.” And the only way that is accomplished is by following our Maker’s “User-Manual.” By the way, it is called The Bible! So the next time a commercial comes on the TV telling you their product will make you look and feel younger – turn it off and enjoy the life you’ve been given. When they have people advertising those products that are actually 100 years old, looking like they are 30, maybe I’ll start listening!
Pastor J. T. Carnell