A Life Well Lived

How would you define “a life well lived?”  Every commercial, every hobby, every sports game, every movie, every concert, every meal whispers to us, “buy this, pursue this, attend this, eat this and you will have a life well lived.”  It is a natural human instinct for us to pursue pleasure and fulfillment and to avoid pain.

This coming Sunday we will look at some of Paul’s last words in the last letter he wrote before he was beheaded in Rome.  He shares with his beloved son in the faith (Timothy) that he has fought the good fight, kept the faith and finished the race” (2 Timothy 4:7).  That sounds like a life well lived, but it isn’t absent from disappointments and difficulties.  Paul shares that his life is being “poured out like a drink offering” and that many of his friends have left him.  Paul is freezing cold and needs Timothy to bring him his coat.  Paul is not in a comfortable room but in a dark, cold prison cell.  But Paul knows that what he sees is not all there is.

Earlier Paul penned the words “we live by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7) and God is giving Paul the ability to see things that are unseen.  As Paul ends his earthly life he remembers the One who promises that “he will never leave or forsake us” (Matthew 28:20).  So Paul is able to testify to Timothy that although “everyone deserted him”  the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength (2 Timothy 4:17).

Have you felt the Lord standing at your side and giving you strength?  At what times have you felt Him beside you?  How has that changed your life?  How has that given you hope?

A well lived life is not determined by the number of things you accumulate or experiences you have.  It is not dodging all disappointments and difficulties.  It is not by avoiding all problems and pain.  A well lived life is knowing that through all of life (the good and the bad) we have a Faithful Friend who stands with us and strengthens us and when we breathe our final breath our Faithful Friend “will rescue [us] from every evil attack and will bring [us] safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:18).

-Steven