ODJ: the Source of life

February 15, 2015 

READ: Genesis 2:1-7 

I know, LORD, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course (Jeremiah 10:23).

In 2012, thanks to a rapper named Drake and the supercharged vehicle of social media, “YOLO” became a popular acronym. It stands for “You Only Live Once.” Though the message of YOLO is test the limits, it became a justification to live life irresponsibly. The answer to drunk driving, parking illegally, disrespecting parents and missing class was simply YOLO. Its underlying meaning is that my life is mine and I get to live it how I want to.

YOLO, however, can point us to a few important truths about life:

• Life proceeds from God. Every human being owes his existence to the Author of life. God breathed the breath of life into Adam, and he became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; Job 33:4; Acts 17:25).
• Life is precious to God. Since people are made in the image of God, they’re precious and valuable to Him (Genesis 1:26-27).
• Life should be lived for God. Since life is a gift from Him, humanity’s posture towards God should include reverence and a commitment to live responsibly according to His standards as outlined in Scripture (Ecclesiastes 12:13). And those standards for life should make us suspicious of our own—causing us to reject the cultural meaning of the YOLO motto while making a full admission that life isn’t found in us, but in God alone. As Jeremiah 10:23 says, “I know, LORD, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course.”

Life is temporary, and death is by God’s appointment. After we die, we’ll live eternally either with God or apart from Him. It’s wise, therefore, to submit our lives to Jesus and spend our days following His ways, for He’s the true Source of life. —Marvin Williams

365-day plan› Exodus 20:1-22