The magnetism of classic stories can be framed up under three categories. Life is best lived in the context of these categories and I want to challenge my readers to step out of their “business as usual” life habits into the following aspects of real living.
It is within these categories that life is truly satisfying and meaningful. These categories of living draw millions of readers to novels and many millions of movie goers to the theaters of the world.
HARD LOVING…
The stage is set as the loved one became the source of the drama. The movie was Ransom produced by Ron Howard. The plot was an airline magnate played by Mel Gibson. His young son is abducted and a rescue attempt by FBI agents fails. Gibson takes matters into his own hands and offers the $2 million ransom as a bounty on the kidnappers.
Recognizing the inevitable outcome of the kidnapped, against all advice, he turns the kidnappers into the target and achieves a return of his son and keeps the ransom. Hard loving is the only way to describe Gibson’s strategy.
In fact, anything short of this kind of hard loving doesn’t deserve the word love. When actions that do not result in the best possible outcome for the loved one are engaged, the actions fall severely short of hard loving.
TOTAL GIVING…
A life that is lived with little or no passion in the giving of oneself to something greater than oneself, falls far short of significant meaning. The attractiveness of the total giving of oneself for the wellbeing of another is one of the most magnetic influences in human behavior.
I watched as NBC Today Show host, Hugh Downs, interviewed a lady named Elizabeth Elliot. Sitting on the set next to Elizabeth was an Auca Indian who she called her brother. A very few years earlier Elizabeth’s beloved husband, Jim Elliot, had totally given himself to bring the Gospel of Jesus to the Waodani tribe. He had been martyred in these attempts.
Now, sitting on the NBC set with Jim’s wife was the man who had speared Jim to death. Because of Jim’s Total Giving the entire tribe he sought to reach had become Christians. Elizabeth wrote her famous book, Through Gates of Splendor, documenting the miraculous work that the Holy Spirit had done through their sacrifice of Total Giving.
ULTIMATE LIVING…
Living for the here and now and living for your own self-satisfaction is anemic living. Only when by the grace of God we can give up to God and live as unto Him for the blessing of others is our life worthwhile.
I live in community with people who know what that’s about. I think of Mike Harden. I knew Mike when he was a real estate agent. God moved upon his heart and gave him a vision to change the future of men coming out of prison. At great risk to himself, Mike founded the ministry known as No Longer Bound in Forsyth County. Hundreds of lives have been redirected because Mike and Beth Harden obeyed God and made Jesus Lord and others their focus of concern.
I think of Dave and Jo Anne Williams. I knew Dave when he was a very successful media sales executive. Dave and Jo Anne removed themselves from the throne of their lives and made Jesus their Lord. Now, they have established ministries of healing under the banner of Tres Dias all over the former Soviet Union. The lives that they have touched are innumerable.
I think of Jim and Helen Mann. After retirement, Jim and Helen, didn’t seek their own comfort but devoted their lives to bringing the Gospel and charitable relief to hurting people all over Mexico. Because of Jim and Helen over 130 churches in Mexico exist today.
HOW TO CHANGE YOUR DIRECTION…
It is time to seek God about His will for your life. Living just for you and yours’ will never satisfy your deepest need to be what God created you to be. As Jesus said, “If you seek to gain your life you will lose it, but if you lose your life for My sake you will gain it…”
God is calling you to seek that which is deeper, higher and greater than yourself. When you enter into His service it will result in THE WORTHWHILE LIFE!
Reverend George Ivey, Pastor
Anglican Church
of the Holy Trinity
7049 Spout Springs Road
Flowery Branch, GA
404-643-7339
