Well…actually…the World Race didn’t change my life.
The World Race did give me some cool experiences, a new perspective on the world, and a bunch of awesome relationships. It was great! But…it did nothing, in and of itself, to change my life. Instead, God changed my life, and His instrument of choice was the World Race. The distinction is important. I have no doubt that if I had done this thing and not chosen to pursue the Lord, I would be nowhere near the man I am now. And I know that on the other hand, like many of my God-fearing friends, I could have been changed at home as well, had I put pursuing God first in my life. But, what I am thankful for is that the World Race eliminated distraction, it let my focus drift from all my pursuits (even my good pursuits) to God and God alone. For someone as stubborn and distracted as I am, it was welcomed.
And so what did I learn in this whole thing? What is my main takeaway? How will my life actually look different once I return home? I think I can sum it up in one sentence.
My life is not meant to be lived for me, but instead for God, to bring him glory.
Or as Paul would say it “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
Simple enough, right? In fact, this is something a lot of us have heard, especially those who grew up in the church. I know I sure did, and I bet you I would be able to preach on this verse even before my trip. But something I have painfully realized time and time again is this: academic knowledge does not equal true belief. As James would tell us, “Prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” (James 1:22)
Yet, as I look back, I know that something was missing. I didn’t understand. My perspective was off. Before, I would have no problem telling you that my life is God’s, I am to live for him. But you could look at my actions and see if that was actually true. Did I wake up every day thinking, “Alright, Lord, what do you want to do together today?” or was it more like, “What do I want to do today?” I think in many ways my choices would show that I actually asked myself that second question. From the big things to the little things, I forced my own will upon my life, doing what I wanted. I largely spent most of my time, money, and energy on myself. Be it saving up money for the newest bike tech instead of thinking of giving to believers in need, choosing to watch Netflix instead of going to the park with my little brother, or staying up late and sleeping in instead of being sure to spend my mornings with the Lord. Now don’t miss my point. This is not about the actions, for our righteous deeds are nothing more than filthy rags. But it is about a state of mind, a posture of heart.
After all, God created each one of use, knitting us together in the womb (Psalm 139). And every day he gives life to all things, we are sustained by his breathe (Job 33:4). I think we all know this, but there is a disconnect. There is so much that tries to tell us this isn’t true, that tries to distract us from our real purpose. Often times it is even good things: working hard at school or your job, enjoying your hobbies (like mountain biking), or even watching a movie with a friend. But on this trip, I’ve learned that I am so small. My life is of so little significance in the grand scheme of things. I’ve also learned that God truly is the best thing in our life, that He gives us meaning and joy that comes from absolutely nothing else. And at the end of the day, to confess Jesus as LORD means to acknowledge that he is the leader and commander not only of this world, but of your life as a Christian.
So now, as I go home, I am ready to actually live for him. And yes, that can sometimes mean going and giving food to the homeless, holding a prayer meeting at my school, or giving some good insight at a Bible Study. But more so, I want to bring the Lord into every aspect of my life, to live as if my main goal is actually to bring him glory. I want to wake up and let the first words that come out of my mouth be: “Thank you, Jesus, for another day.” I want to spend time with Him in His Word and in prayer not because it is the ‘right’ thing to do, but because I have a relationship with him, because I love him. I want to go to my classes not just thinking about my schoolwork, but also thinking about my fellow students around me who are in desperate need of a little love. I want to show my little brother that God loves him not by preaching to him, but by showing him through spending time with him. I want to be constantly talking with my Creator. I want my life to scream “Jesus loves you, I am proof!”
I don’t want to make excuses any more. I’m ready for my yes to be yes. And it doesn’t matter what I’m doing, but rather that I’m doing it with Jesus. And if I can’t bring Jesus into it, I probably shouldn’t be doing it at all.
And yet, I know all this won’t be easy. In fact, we are promised that the gateway to eternal life is narrow, and the path to it is hard (Matthew 7)…but, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8). He’s given us everything we need to choose him, to be conformed to his image, to be obedient. And he will do it with us, we are never alone (Matthew 28).
Guys, our life isn’t about us! And thank goodness, I’m not that great. But I know someone who is, and I’m ready to show the world just how great He is.
LET’S GO!
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31
