Rejoice In The Life You Hate?

 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  John 12:25

We have seen the life that seems to have it all: a fit body, a pretty face, a big house, sharp wits, good health, fame, fortune, and family. Who wouldn't love a life with all of those things in abundance?  Then comes our Lord's teaching in John and a pause to, perhaps, give thanks to God and rejoice in the life we hate. Mmm, hmm, yes, all of those things seem to be on the surface. There are those who are blessed with wealth, fame, and faith in Jesus. There are those who have a pretty face and sharp wits, and use them to serve the Lord. And in the opposite way there are those who have none of the things on that first list and who are also grumbly hateful to the nth degree. Why aren't they rejoicing? 

Jesus taught us to go below the surface and to look in the heart, mind and soul. What do we hate about this life? The separations are one thing that comes to mind more frequently as we grow older. We have felt it and seen it in each other, and yes we do hate the death that stalks the land separating us one from another for a time. Sin is another one, both the sin we commit and those  done by others that hurt our neighbors, friends, and family. A forest burned up, a field of crops washed away, a friend suffering a mental illness, injustice in the world, and many other curses of the age show us a life easy to hate. 

No, the word of the Lord is not to rejoice in a life we hate, but to rejoice in the One who saves us from this life so easy to hate.

Bucky