This life is finite. From the moment we are born, the clock begins ticking down the seconds of our life. No matter what we do or who we become, we will live once, and then we will die. (James 4:14; Psalm 90:10) We have a responsibility to steward the days entrusted to us in a way that is worthy of Christ dying on the cross. He didn’t sacrifice Himself so we could spend our days on trivialities and pleasure.
He died so we might have life to the fullest and most holy extent. (John 10:10; 1 Peter 2:24) How dare we waste it on selfish living, lust, gluttony, and greed? (1 Peter 4:1-3; Ephesians 5:15-18) That’s grotesque. We have one life, and when it’s gone, it’s gone. Or perhaps more sobering, we have one life to live, and after this, the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27-28; 2 Corinthians 5:10) How, then, should we live?
C.T. Studd wrote, “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past / Only what’s done for Christ will last.” Only what we do for Christ will endure. Nothing you accomplish, nothing you accumulate, and no amount of pleasure or prestige will last. It’s all useless, pointless, and irrelevant. If you spend your life in pursuit of these things, then your life will be useless, pointless, and irrelevant. Is that what you always imagined? Is it your goal? You have one life to live; who will you live it for?
We have an unusual preoccupation with sin. Like Paul, we abhor it and are at the same time drawn to it. (Romans 7:15-24) All sin produces but a momentary source of pleasure or satisfaction. Then it’s gone until we indulge again. It’s a vicious cycle. Like any addict, we detest the source of the high but feel helpless to resist the lure of the high itself. That’s pure Satan. It’s the lie he perpetuates ad nauseam. Just a little sin, and then you’ll feel better. People will accept you. You’ll get ahead. It will take the pressure off. All of it is temporary, and all of it is a lie.
With one life to live, we don’t have the time to waste on lies. If we don’t live for truth, how will we spend eternity with the Truth? This life is to whet our appetite, to give us a hunger for truth, not lies. God is truth; He cannot lie, and Satan is a liar to the core. (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:1-2; John 8:44) Do you want to serve a God who is pure, holy, and good (1 John 1:5; 1 Peter 1:15-16) or bow your knee to a deceiver intent on your destruction? (John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8) Knowing those are your only two choices, how much do you want to sin now?
Sin leads only to death. (Romans 6:23; James 1:14-15) It’s all Satan has to offer: enjoy your moment now and suffer for eternity. Jesus offers a better way. Live for Him now and spend eternity in peace, rest, and joy. How stupid do we have to be to choose Satan’s plan over God’s plan? But the choice is ours, and we must decide. We all have one life to live. What will you do with yours?