The Way to Real Life

God lives and works today. He is real and is offering us real life. What is this real life and how can we get it? The answer is in today's meditation by Basilea Schlink called The Way to Real Life.

The slogan of our world today is, human drives must be given free reign. Then we will be freed from our inhibitions and finally we'll be able to develop our real personalities. Yes, this desire to make the most of life, to enjoy life to the full, has gripped mankind as never before.

And yet, the suicide rate constantly increases. And so we raise the question, could it be that perhaps after all, an uninhibited life does not bring freedom and full development of the personality? How can we take advantage of the great opportunities that life has to offer? This is the question that has challenged mankind throughout all ages. One day, a young man approached Jesus to raise the same question.

How can I get eternal life, or as we would ask today, real life? Jesus gave this rich young ruler an answer which puzzled him and which has been puzzling believers of all times, especially of those today. Jesus' answer contradicts our expectations. He gives us a paradox which can be paraphrased.

If you want to have life, then die to that which makes life worthwhile for you. If you want to have a full, happy life, drawing from God's eternal resources, a life that's greater than death, then go and sell what you have. Why does Jesus demand sacrifice? Why does he demand that we give up something that actually makes life worthwhile, such as love, honor, recognition, and everything else that we desire? Jesus is the truth, so he alone can show us the true way to life.

He saw that that wealth made life worthwhile for the rich young ruler, but he also saw that he was bound to that wealth. Every bondage is the opposite of freedom, and therefore cannot bring us free, real life. Jesus says, I am the life, and real life is mine to grant.

I have wonderful things prepared for you. I've come to make you happy, not only spiritually, not only one day above in heaven, where the greatest abundance of joy and the glory of true life is awaiting for you. I have abundant life to grant you here on earth, true happiness.

Therefore, give up your idols and your bondages. Yes, a happy and meaningful life is found through dying, relinquishing, and sacrificing. If we go this way with Jesus, we will experience the reality of his words.

If you lose your life for my sake, you will find it. Oh, make me thine, my Savior, Lord most holy, that I may only live to give thee glory. Oh, make me thine.

Oh, make me thine. Take all I love and treasure, my life, my honor, if that brings thee pleasure and shows my love. Yes, make me thine.

You have been listening to a program written by Basilea Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan. To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website, www.canaan.org. If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet. If you do not have access to the web, please contact this radio station for our postal address.

God bless you.