Thandile
Life without God is impossible because we are wired to be completely dependent on him. It is imperative to note this was not the first lesson I learnt but a critical one indeed; and therefore forms a solid foundation for successful Christian living. This lesson was a turning point for me and I would therefore like to impress this upon you, so that everything else flows out of this truth.
Life without him is not life in its true essence as He is life. Jesus declared his mission in John 10:10 that he came to give life in abundance. This would lead me to believe that life without Him is not life at all, at least not the way God intended it to be. Jeremiah 10:23 states “
| “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” (NKJV) |
The true realisation of this lesson came to me through this scripture which still speaks to me every day all the way as it is human nature to get ahead of ourselves and forget our frailty. We are often taught and many hold true to the belief that experience is the best teacher. However, if it were then people would make fewer mistakes and the word would not declare that our way is not in us. The truth is, no matter how much experience we may have gained over time; I can attest to the fact that the journey with the Lord requires your complete devotion and attention thus complete dependence on Him. This journey is unlike the roads we often travel on; which we know all so well along with every corner, bend and curve. This journey is full of surprises, ups and downs; moments of bliss, sorrow and those we could not even describe with words. This may sound cliché and even cheesy but just think about it; how often it is that people are victim to circumstances because they thought they knew better. Interestingly even when we have ticked all the boxes, fulfilled the entire list of requirements; and have even played it safe that we are still hit with a curve ball. Eccl 9:11 helps us to understand that the race is neither to the swift nor the battle to the strong but the blazing reality is that something’s in this life are far from simple and beyond our human comprehension.
“I returned and saw under the sun that—
The race is not to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor bread to the wise,
Nor riches to men of understanding,
Nor favor to men of skill;
But time and chance happen to them all “ (NKJV)
It is for this reason one must constantly remind him or herself to look to the Lord in all things and not to rely on our own understanding according to Proverbs 3:5.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding; (NKJV)
