If I really like something, I’ve been known to say it’s “to die for.” My favorite restaurant is Abigail’s in Rocheport, Missouri. It’s a quaint bistro in a small tourist town and has only a few tables. The menu is constantly changing and offers gourmet entrees that are “to die for.” That’s cliché, of course, but it got me thinking about my life and the choices I’ve made, and how one choice in particular gave me a life that is truly “to die for.”

What are you living for? Do you set goals? How about priorities? If you answered “no”, I would like to suggest that we all set goals and priorities, even if we don’t know it. To make my point, let me ask you:  Is there some expectation that you have for your future like good grades, a degree, a promotion at work, a bigger house, having a family, finding love? (The list goes on and on) In fact, the world is filled with these things that can easily become distractions. That’s right—distractions. These things are important, but are they all-important? Are they “to die for?”

What is it we are supposed to be living for? Jesus said, “He who would save his life will lose it, but he who loses his life shall gain it.” How exactly do we lose our life and yet gain it? “For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his soul?” Mark 8:36 KJV

Society would have us believe that we are a success if we have a good career, a nice home, drive a nice car, send our kids to college, and save enough money to retire. I’ll admit—that’s an attractive scenario, but the truth is—from the moment we were born, we were destined to die. Our life is like a vapor as explained in the book of James. “What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’” James 4:14-15. Within that verse is the key to losing our life but gaining it. We should constantly seek God’s will and direction in our plans, our goals, and our priorities. This life is not about us. It’s about God and His kingdom. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33 KJV

I have always been a work-oriented person. Whatever I was working at, I always wanted to do my very best. That sounds admirable, right? IT’S NOT. My heart was in the wrong place. I performed for myself, the goals I had set for me, the priorities I thought were important.  All for the glory of me! But, when I in all my ways acknowledge God, he directs my path.  (taken from Proverbs 3:6) And His path for me is always better, happier, and full of peace and power. It is not always the easy path, but the hope I have in Him is greater than anything this world has to offer.

Now, I have written this for those of us who have acknowledged Jesus as our savior, asked for forgiveness for our sins, and made a decision to follow Him. Perhaps you don’t fit in that category. If you’ve read this far, I’m afraid you’ve come to a fork in the road and must choose the way you will go. If you decide to accept Jesus, he’s only a prayer away. Call upon Him today and be saved. We are all sinners, but we must call upon Jesus to become a sinner saved by Grace. My prayer for all of us is that we’d fully know the Savior and understand that a life lived for Him is truly a life “to die for.”

God Bless You All.