A Different List

The checklist of life encompasses many different tick-boxes and they vary at different stages of life, different roles and different nature of people. For the career driven, it would include lots of plans for progression, self improvement or seeking opportunities. For the family-oriented, like a parent, it could include earning money for their child’s university fund or spending quality time during weekends. For the health enthusiasts, it might have things like planning out daily calorie intake or keeping up with a consistent exercise regime and many more. What is on your list this moment in life, brothers and sisters? The other day, I was reading a quote from a Christian writer about the Apostle Paul. He was a man faced with many kinds of trials in life, be it his mission field or his moments being confined by the four walls of a prison cell. But despite the many hurdles before him, we can see one clear evidence in his life as a person who trust in God’s faithfulness, that is, he was contented. He was contented and he embrace whatever conditions he was placed in by God’s plan. I thought long about Paul’s life and as much as I really admire this God-led heart of his, I cannot imagine how I would have reacted in his plight. How did this faithful servant have the consistent faith and perspective on the Lord, all while dealing with the big challenges he faced? The thing is, Paul focused on a different list in life. A different checklist, goal system and definition of accomplishment. 

A typical list

As I have said, we all have a different list, but the ultimate reasons or motivations are mostly typical to achieving some thing for ourselves or for our loved ones. Now, I am not saying it is right or wrong to have a drivenness in us to work in the areas we are called to. However, we must be aware of how the world and the forces of darkness are wiring us, especially subtly or in the majority. We grow up, maybe, having ideas in us that we should get certain standards of education to be valued, or have a certain salary range to be deemed successful. And in our current society, the culture is also having different movements due to strong opinions, public sentiments and a driving force from influential sources, that are against the Lord’s way yet making its way into being normalised. Now all these things contribute to the list we have for ourselves in lives and in the future, the checklist of our next generation. However, these are the very ideals that if not cross-checked and brought to the counsel of God’s leading, will eventually turn us away from God and His concerns. We will start to try integrating God’s word with our own ideals. And very easily, whatever we are able to tick off on the boxes, will quickly develop a stronger sense of self-righteousness and pride within us that, “Maybe I do not need God after all. I am well capable of doing things on my own.” But Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” It is true that God may have given us certain strengths and capabilities, yet the Enabler of it all, is ultimately God Himself who wields the power and authority to bring things to fruition.

A different list

Now as the world drives us to create different list to accomplish in life, God, however, calls us to look at a different and very consistent list of things. The same list Paul held on to and the same list God would have all His children cling on to for the whole of their lives.

▢ God’s character:

Firstly, it is a tick-box that confirms God’s character and presence in our lives daily. Psalm 18:30 says, “As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” Do we trust and submit to the Lord who is ever-present and faithful to those He loves, which is you? Paul had the strength to face his trials because He knows full well who was backing him up, the almighty God whom he trust, has the best interest for his life. So when we are unable to check this part of the box, maybe it is a good re-direction for us to turn from our worries and concerns, to first look to the Lord’s promises. Our first step must always begin with knowing and reknowing God’s character and works, in order to have that assurance and unparalleled right source of hope and strength.

▢ Your identity:

Next, after we have known who God is and what He is like to us, we need to have another tick-box that checks if we indeed are living lives as a child of God. This does not mean that we have to be perfect or always accumulating some good works. It includes the fact that we acknowledge our sins are forgiven and redeemed by Christ, thus we should not dwell in condemnations or past shame and mistakes, but the surety and assurance in our salvation should lead us into seeking and pursuing God’s leading for our lives. Living out our roles with the fragrance of the gospel, whether as a worker, a parent, a child, a friend or a brethren. (…) Paul had this confidence of Christ’s glory on him that even though he was locked in a seemingly run-down cell and pathetic plight, he continued to share the gospel to his jail mates and even the prison guards. Wherever God planted him, he bloomed because he always kept his eyes on the Lord and who the Lord is moulding him to be.

▢ Your purpose:

Then, we also need to have a tick-box that checks our purpose in this world again. This is also a very important spiritual reality check we have to do on the daily. Matthew 28:18-20 says, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” So, do you see that God’s purpose for you is not your worldly gains or accomplishments or men’s approval, but to glorify God, benefit people and build His kingdom in His will for you? When our purpose are driven by the ever-changing men and situations, surely our hope and emotions will be ever-changing as well. But God gives us a way unlike the world. A way that finds stable direction and guidance in our roles and fields to ultimately bring ourselves and the people we are burdened for, before the Lord.

▢ The greatest Treasure of life:

Finally, the last tick-box we have to honestly examine within ourselves is what we see as our greatest treasure at this moment right now. It may seem to take a form of a high paying job, a new born child, good health condition or winning some kind of award. But in truth, there is no greater treasure than the One who came down to exempt us from all the sins we have accumulated in this life and exempted us from the entrance of Hell because of His work on the cross. As Acts 4:12 says, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” So do you see Jesus Christ as the greatest treasure of your life, or is there something else outweighing this? Is your concern in merely caring for or impressing people? Or is it to bring your loved ones to know this greatest Treasure as well? Now I know this is easier said than done, because the fact is worldly treasures feels real and impacts us in different ways. That is precisely why we need to be consistent in having the right list and going back to it, to keep ourselves sober-minded and consecrated daily in our choices, our flow of thoughts and our motives. 

Brothers and sisters, the life of Paul may seem like a challenging example for us to follow, but the Lord calls not for perfection but pursuit. The constant realisation, repentance and pursuit of the blessed list He has guaranteed will give us far greater joy as we run the race with Him onto completion. God bless.