Articles
Isn't It My Life?
In 1978, singer Billy Joel released a song called "My Life". It expressed the way we basically feel in America. The first verse and part of the chorus basically said don't worry about me, don't tell me what to do....I don't care what you have to say, this is my life....live yours the way you want and leave me alone.
Perhaps because of our freedoms, perhaps it's "western society" arrogance, I don't know, but most people don't want anybody else to tell them what to do. We have the right to chose, so let us do it and don't try to change us. And I'm not saying that's necessarily wrong either, because I certainly don't want a non-believer telling me how to live.....I chose to believe and obey God, and I want to be left alone to do that.
And when the discussion is between humans, that's all fine and good. I'm not obligated to live the way someone else thinks I should, nor are they obligated to live the way I think is best. But, that's not the case with God.
God makes us free moral agents, and He won't send lightening from heaven to force us to obey Him, let's be clear about that. If we choose to live a life that leads to spiritual destruction, God won't stop us, it's our choice. But let's be clear about the truth of the Gospel also, and shine a light on the punishment that awaits us if we do deny Him. That punishment is very real, and it's very eternal. That's the difference between telling humans to leave us alone to live, and telling God to leave us alone. We can thumb our nose at mankind, and beat to our own drum, and nobody has the so-called right to demand otherwise outside of the laws of our society of course. Mankind is limited however to what can be done to us, up to and including taking our life.
God on the other hand, made us. We were created in His image. We belong to Him as His very creation, and He not only has the power to determine our eternal destiny, He has promised to do exactly that. As we said, God won't physically force us to meet His demands on how to live, but He most certainly will hold us accountable on the day of judgement if we don't. That knowledge alone should make mankind tremble simply at the thought of standing before our Creator one day, to "receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (2 Cor 5:10) NIV
Intentionally looking God in the face so to speak, and saying "it's my life, leave me alone" is a suicide mission. We know the outcome, and it doesn't end well. Why oh why are so many committed to killing themselves? "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Rev 21:8) NIV
