"WHAT AM I LIVING FOR?"
The story has been told of an early Christian who was about to be put to death because he would not deny his Lord. His executioner was unable to understand his apparent lack of fear in the face of death. In fact, there was a manifestation of joy on the part of the Christian. Finally, the executioner could contain himself no longer. He exclaimed, "I am about to kill you! How can you remain so calm and happy?" To which the Christian replied, "Kill me, and you take from me that which I cannot keep, and you give me that which I cannot lose."This Christian had learned a very important lesson that we all need to learn. He had not only learned how to live, he had learned how to face death. We hear so much talk about how we should live and how we can give meaning to our life, however I am convinced that many have not even come close to learning the real secret to happy and meaningful living.Most people seem to have the idea that to be happy in this life we must have something "worth living for." With this thought in mind many turn to money, pleasure or other things of this world, hoping to find that which is worth "living for." All such attempts to find happiness end in failure.The faithful Christian has learned that the things of this life are very empty when it comes to giving meaning and purpose to one's life. The only thing really important is so living now that we may gain eternal life when this life is over. The Christian is willing to die rather than deny his Lord. This is the thing that is of real value. Someone has truly said, "If we have nothing worth dying for then we really have very little worth living for." Jesus said, "What shall a man profit, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Matt. 16:26).