Living 'Til We Die
What if a man should die before he lives? A fear of death before living provokes anxiety. Sensing that life is supposed to be purposeful, man is frustrated in life unless he discovers how to live. One wants to live before he dies.
Purposeful living is not a temporal existence confined to a period of one's life; it is all-encompassing. An old song used to proclaim, "Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey, I cry; If a tree don't fall on me, I'll live 'til I die." This facetious jingle provokes a serious question: Can a man live 'til he dies? Frustrated in his plans, shackled with increasing limitations of life, and thwarted in many pursuits, man is faced with great challenges to live all his days.
A beautiful story of one man's undefeatable quest is found in our text. King David had a great dream. More than any other goal in his role as King was his desire to build a house for the Lord. A temple, the center of worship for the Chosen People, was the dream of his heart. Solomon spoke about the meaning of this dream in the life of his father: "And it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord God Israel." Note the expression, "It was in his heart....."
But things in our hearts are not always possible. The dream of David's was not to be fulfilled by his hand. The words came telling him that such would not be. The dream of his would have its fulfillment in the life of his son.
Cherished dreams are denied. How often does the soul experience this blow of reality? "It is not to be," circumstances often speak. Frustration produces discouragement in our life. How can one get excited about living when dreams are not to be?
Sometimes one never reaches his vocational objectives. Those dreams of what he would like to be turn into nightmares. A resounding "no" is heard to the request of the heart. Our family plans are also turned aside. Some look forward with much anticipation to the first arrival, only to face the reality of no children coming. Some work hard for the days of retirement to enjoy the fruits of their labor, only to find the fruits have turned sour because of the loss of a mate. Plans are denied!
Who does not have hopes of great achievements, mounting to something in life? Who does not dream that something significant will come from his being born? We dream, we work, and we hope.
But what does one do when he has heard the declaration, "It shall not be." King David can give us some help at this point. Look what he did.
First, he never gave up his dreams because he could not fully attain them. He did not get bitter and quit. He accommodated his dreams to reality. When he could not get all he wanted done, he did what he could to see that his plans were accomplished.
"Crying over spilled milk" is another mistake in addition to spilling the milk. Living in defeatism guarantees a defeated life. Living is making the most of what is left in life.
With a sense of respect, I recall an elderly lady who attended some of my classes while I was in college. With youthful enthusiasm, she tackled the discipline of the classroom as those forty years younger. She seemed to want to live all her days.
Consider one of Dean's parables - Three lads have been given permission to go into a toy store to get anything which they want. They can carry out what they can hold. A time limit is being set. The first goes in and rushes around grabbing the first things that he can get his hands on. The second goes in and notices a gun suspended from the ceiling. All other things are ignored for the one prized object. Toys are stacked upon another to reach it. Alas, all attempts fail. Time expires and nothing is in his hands. The third goes in and looks around. He, too, sees the gun and makes an attempt to get it. Sensing that he would be unable to get it, he turns and decides upon what he would like to have in which he can reach. He departs with his arms full of choice items, even though he could not get the gun. Blessed is the man who does what he can with what he has!
David did what he could by preparing others to reach his goal. Before his death, he gathered the people together and told them of his dream. Solomon is groomed to do the job. Items are collected and given for the purpose of the building of the temple. Plans are turned over to Solomon. A cooperative effort was made so that another could reach his goal.
Thank God for people who will prepare the way: The may not reach the ultimate goal in this life, but they are trying to blaze some trails for others to reach great heights.
When our dreams do not come true, we can still be builders. Perhaps we can lay the foundation for that dream to become real in the life of others to follow. We can equip others to do things which we many be unable to do.
If you knew that you would be moving from where you are now, would you have the heart to plant a tree? Can you give of yourself to God's dream, knowing that the dividend may not be reaped in this life span? Can we get excited with tree planting realizing that someone else will enjoy the shade?
Finally David sought in it all to bring glory to God. Even if others were to do what he could not, he became excited over the possibilities, for God was to be glorified.
Life is made of commitments, not attainments; the direction one faces, not the milestones passed; and the Godly intentions, not acts committed.
Will our frustrated dreams bring a premature death? Will we quit dreaming, planning, working, and living because our frustrations in our ultimate goal? God forbid! Let's live 'til we die!!!
Purposeful living is not a temporal existence confined to a period of one's life; it is all-encompassing. An old song used to proclaim, "Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey, I cry; If a tree don't fall on me, I'll live 'til I die." This facetious jingle provokes a serious question: Can a man live 'til he dies? Frustrated in his plans, shackled with increasing limitations of life, and thwarted in many pursuits, man is faced with great challenges to live all his days.
A beautiful story of one man's undefeatable quest is found in our text. King David had a great dream. More than any other goal in his role as King was his desire to build a house for the Lord. A temple, the center of worship for the Chosen People, was the dream of his heart. Solomon spoke about the meaning of this dream in the life of his father: "And it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord God Israel." Note the expression, "It was in his heart....."
But things in our hearts are not always possible. The dream of David's was not to be fulfilled by his hand. The words came telling him that such would not be. The dream of his would have its fulfillment in the life of his son.
Cherished dreams are denied. How often does the soul experience this blow of reality? "It is not to be," circumstances often speak. Frustration produces discouragement in our life. How can one get excited about living when dreams are not to be?
Sometimes one never reaches his vocational objectives. Those dreams of what he would like to be turn into nightmares. A resounding "no" is heard to the request of the heart. Our family plans are also turned aside. Some look forward with much anticipation to the first arrival, only to face the reality of no children coming. Some work hard for the days of retirement to enjoy the fruits of their labor, only to find the fruits have turned sour because of the loss of a mate. Plans are denied!
Who does not have hopes of great achievements, mounting to something in life? Who does not dream that something significant will come from his being born? We dream, we work, and we hope.
But what does one do when he has heard the declaration, "It shall not be." King David can give us some help at this point. Look what he did.
First, he never gave up his dreams because he could not fully attain them. He did not get bitter and quit. He accommodated his dreams to reality. When he could not get all he wanted done, he did what he could to see that his plans were accomplished.
"Crying over spilled milk" is another mistake in addition to spilling the milk. Living in defeatism guarantees a defeated life. Living is making the most of what is left in life.
With a sense of respect, I recall an elderly lady who attended some of my classes while I was in college. With youthful enthusiasm, she tackled the discipline of the classroom as those forty years younger. She seemed to want to live all her days.
Consider one of Dean's parables - Three lads have been given permission to go into a toy store to get anything which they want. They can carry out what they can hold. A time limit is being set. The first goes in and rushes around grabbing the first things that he can get his hands on. The second goes in and notices a gun suspended from the ceiling. All other things are ignored for the one prized object. Toys are stacked upon another to reach it. Alas, all attempts fail. Time expires and nothing is in his hands. The third goes in and looks around. He, too, sees the gun and makes an attempt to get it. Sensing that he would be unable to get it, he turns and decides upon what he would like to have in which he can reach. He departs with his arms full of choice items, even though he could not get the gun. Blessed is the man who does what he can with what he has!
David did what he could by preparing others to reach his goal. Before his death, he gathered the people together and told them of his dream. Solomon is groomed to do the job. Items are collected and given for the purpose of the building of the temple. Plans are turned over to Solomon. A cooperative effort was made so that another could reach his goal.
Thank God for people who will prepare the way: The may not reach the ultimate goal in this life, but they are trying to blaze some trails for others to reach great heights.
When our dreams do not come true, we can still be builders. Perhaps we can lay the foundation for that dream to become real in the life of others to follow. We can equip others to do things which we many be unable to do.
If you knew that you would be moving from where you are now, would you have the heart to plant a tree? Can you give of yourself to God's dream, knowing that the dividend may not be reaped in this life span? Can we get excited with tree planting realizing that someone else will enjoy the shade?
Finally David sought in it all to bring glory to God. Even if others were to do what he could not, he became excited over the possibilities, for God was to be glorified.
Life is made of commitments, not attainments; the direction one faces, not the milestones passed; and the Godly intentions, not acts committed.
Will our frustrated dreams bring a premature death? Will we quit dreaming, planning, working, and living because our frustrations in our ultimate goal? God forbid! Let's live 'til we die!!!
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