Life That is Truly Life! by John Avant

“In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” ‭‭

1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬ ‭

I love this verse.   

Every January, Donna and I get away together to pray and talk about the year ahead. We know that the busyness, the travel, the pressures, and even the pleasures of our life can actually distract us from the true life that God truly has for us this year! 

True life doesn’t happen accidentally.  

It’s not something we just encounter along the way. 

As the verse above teaches us, it (true life) is a treasure to be procured and a foundation to be laid. 

So here’s something the Lord has said to me about specifically pursuing the true life He has for us in the year ahead. Hopefully it will help you to pursue the true life He has for you too!

We need to be clear on the “Why, What and How” of our life this year.

We need more than a full calendar, the ability to pay our bills and some good family time. Those things are a part of life, but true life is more than that.  

Why?

For us, the only way to true life is the Jesus way. But why? It gives clarity, confidence and calm in the midst of chaos to have a good answer to that question. If an unbeliever asks you why you believe what you believe, what will you say? 

Here is my answer:

I believe with reasonable faith that the God of the Bible created everything, sustains everything, and demonstrated clearly who He is by raising Jesus from the dead. 

This is my Why. 

And I love sharing the evidence, the details and the power of this statement for anyone who will listen!

(If you need help in defending the existence of God or the resurrection, read the incredible books Is Atheism Dead by Metaxas and The Resurrection of Jesus by Licona)

What?

I will pour my time, my energy, my resources, and the opportunities God gives me into the fulfillment of the Great Commission in the next 10 years. 

When you get that specific about your life purpose, it allows you to say yes to the right things, no to the wrong things and to live life with focus and expectation.  

How?

Through our ministry, Passion Promise, we will help missionaries and church planters stay healthy in their marriages, and in their souls, and we will connect university students and churches to Great Commission revival. 

That’s it! That’s life that is truly life. I know it in the deepest part of my heart. And now I will pursue it. I will seek to balance my life so that I have all of the physical, emotional and spiritual resources that God has for me to live this life.

What about you? It’s still January! There’s still time to start this year right. Take some time in the next few days and ask God to show you your own Why, What and How. 

And then go live with joy the life that is truly life!