THE GIFT OF LIFE
THE GIFT OF LIFE!!!
Happy New Year!
The year 2017 is finally here and we should be thankful to be counted amongst the living. There is something so remarkable about every new year. It marks beginnings, renewal, awakening, but most of all, a fresh start. What ever happened last year remains in 2016 and now there’s an opportunity to start afresh. 2016 was a very reflective year and one of the many things we may have all come to appreciate is the gift of life.
Many of us focus on new year resolutions and many talk about “getting right with God”, well another new year is here, so how about we focus on God whole heartedly. New year plans seem so fresh in early months like January and February but as the year progresses our plans fall along the way and we just live each day as it comes and our glossy bibles then gather heaps of dust, being untouched since January.
The bible was written so many years ago, yet it is still so relevant today. The book of Ecclesiastes written by an embodiment of wisdom himself, King Solomon, is one of the wisdom filled books of the bible. In Ecclesiastes 9 , the King describes the reality of life using death. From different versions of the bible, Ecclesiastes 9 is titled as this; “A common destiny for all”; “Enjoy life despite death”; and this attention grabbing one “Seize life”! That is so powerful. Many times we get so focused and so obsessed with the destination we forget the journey; the journey being our day to day life. We get so consumed in whatever it is we are doing, we don’t really live. Sometimes we may be going through struggles and view our lives with less value, because we are not where we think we are supposed to be. The King Solomon advises us:
“But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion”. Ecclesiastes 9:4 NKJV
This comparison is very realistic. When you think of a lion you think of strength, courage, boldness , fierceness. A dog on the other hand can be described as meek, calm, ‘domestic’. But no matter the strength, courage and fierceness of a lion, once it dies, it dies, and a living dog no matter how meek will always have more hope than a dead lion. In all, once there is life there is hope , you can soar , you can achieve , you can live, you can do it. That thing you’ve been telling yourself you’ll do “next year” for the last five years, you can do it (now!,this moment!)
In the message (MSG) version of Ecclesiastes 9:6, it says, when people die, ‘even their dreams are long gone’. Life is fleeting and you don’t want to spend your whole life dreaming and dreaming, how about doing, how about living while you still have life.
On an end note I leave you with this bible verse I learnt as a child.
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going”. Ecclesiastes 9:10
Believe in God, and live life Heartily!
IfeOluwa Jaiyesimi.©
The Revolutionary Righter©