Living

A person who really wishes to learn how to live life more successfully must first know whether he has life to live, or whether he possesses nothing more than mere existence. When a man knows that he has "life," he knows that it is not earthly life, but eternal life, and that it bears a divine quality which makes living something more than existence.

Living the Christian life becomes a daily process which may be likened to the water that flows from two different faucets, mixing together in one spout before it flows into the basin. The force of the life that flows from the fountain of the old nature is very great and terrible. It can be restrained only by our committing it to the hand of the Lord that He may keep its flow checked. Its washers are rusted out with sin, and its flow contaminates everything we are and do, unless it is kept in check by the momentary surrender to the life and power of the Lord that flows out of the new life which He has created within us. Paul, like us, knew that he lived in the flesh, but by the faith of the Son of God (Gal. 2:20).

The Christian must recognize that there are no degrees of right or wrong. Any wish or act in life comes from the flesh or from the Spirit. There is no other source of willingness or action. Satan and the world work through the flesh, and the latter is the source of all that is contrary to the Spirit.

The life that is lived by the Spirit is characterized by the fruit of the Spirit. This is "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control" (Gal. 5:22). When the source of true living is established and our relationship with our God becomes an integral part of us, then our living, as it affects those around us, takes on its true and holy pattern. We can never be critical of what we see in anyone else, for we remember the path along which our Lord has had to bring us. We become so grateful to our Lord for the blessings that He has showered upon us in the years of our spiritual immaturity that our hearts turn out for others who have not yet accepted the free-flowing life which He is so eager to give. We realize that we have a great distance to go ourselves and our motto becomes, "If any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know" (1 Cor. 8:2). It is inconceivable to be other than kindly towards those who are on the same ladder that we have climbed and who may be a few rungs behind us. We can help them on, and in so doing climb together to His glory.

1. What are some of the differences between living life or just existing?
2. How would you explain the differences to an unbeliever?