Life is good.
I don’t really want to spend my time here writing some deep theological treatise on why this is absolutely true, but I will take a brief stab at it to sway you from thinking I’m only waxing poetic sans Biblical proof.
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
— James 1:17
And Jesus said to him, “…No one is good except God alone.”
— Luke 18:19
But put to death the Prince [Author, Originator, Founder] of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.
— Acts 3:15
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
— Romans 6:23
These four verses alone prove, logically, that life is good. Every good thing is from above. Jesus is from above; therefore, He is good. He is the Author of life; therefore life is good. We have been given His life, eternal life, as believers; therefore, we are owners of this good life. Done. Proven. Life is good.
Again, this blog isn’t a theological discourse on the technical reasons why life is good. I don’t want this to feel sterile and void of emotion. I want, rather, to express a different aspect of why this is true, dare I say in a bit more practical language. Allow me to begin by quoting Holy Scripture (always the best place to start whenever we begin speaking boldly).
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.
For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
— 2 Corinthians 4:7-18
I’d like to focus your attention on v16, “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” I think that any believer who loses sight of this basic truth about our lives here on Earth runs the risk of losing the opening perspective that life is good. I often wonder how this might happen to a person. I never have to look any further than in the mirror, to be totally honest. I get down and even depressed from time to time, which, technically speaking, makes no sense (I speak purposefully in a limited way to draw out a point). I mean, why would a man like me, with countless blessings, the foremost being possession of eternal life, ever cease saying, “Life is good”?
Whenever we focus on the “outer man,” we doom ourselves to poor perspective on life, itself. Physically, the older I get, the more my body seems to betray me. After a pair of knee surgeries, even basic motions like squatting have become painful. For a lifelong athlete like myself, getting old can be a real bummer. But that’s just me being self-absorbed, ungrateful, and silly. My body is supposed to fail, just like God promised it would when He doled out the curse against it after the Fall in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). I shouldn’t be discouraged; rather encouraged by the fact that what God said would happen is happening.
Disappointment is nothing more than failed expectations.
One thing life has taught me is to never depend on the “outer man” as a source of happiness, for it is “decaying” (v16). There’s nothing grandiose about decay. Decay also carries with it disease and infection, negatively affecting surrounding areas (e.g., attitude towards life). However, my “inner man is being renewed day by day” (v16). This gives me hope! There’s a part of me, the good part, that is improving over time! It’s that part that will enjoy the eternal life given to me forever and ever. Meanwhile, my “outer man” will be long since dead.
Like everything in this life, it’s all about perspective. If we wake up each morning with the habit of dwelling on, and complaining about, how awful it is to get old, we miss the boat on why life is good and actually getting better by the day!
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
— Philippians 4:8
Perspective is highly influenced by the direction of our thoughts. Learn to dwell on good things and your feelings about life will follow. Life is indeed good, especially to those of us who, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing” (Philippians 2:14). We have so much to be grateful for in this life; therefore, “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins