How we are meant to live

Switchfoot. Been listening to them more lately, and I still love their songs. The main reason I'm into them is because Jon Foreman has a way of expressing human emotions and spiritual hardship in such simplistic yet powerful lyrics. And they're pretty catchy.

Their song 'Gone' has gotten me thinking lately. The song tells a simple message: "Don't take any day for granted." The song is about how anyone who truly wants to live a fruitful and meaningful life must live every day like our time on Earth is very limited. Which in reality should be easy, because limited is exactly what our days on this Earth are.

The lyrics that get me are these ones:

Today will soon be gone
Like yesterday is gone
Like history is gone
Just try and prove me wrong
And pretend like you're immortal

The funny thing is that Biblical theology states that our souls are indeed immortal. Whether we choose the narrow path of truth or the wide path to destruction doesn't change the fact that after this life, we have another destination, where we shall be for eternity. But as for time on this Earth? 'Limited' is an understatement. Who knows what's going to happen tomorrow?

As lazy as I can be, even I end some days thinking, "Man. That day accomplished nothing at all for the big picture. What a waste of a whole day." This song illustrates that our stalling and procrastinating is dangerous. We are given our time on this Earth not to cruise and survive, but to flourish and live a full life that glorifies an eternal God.

Every day that we say "I'll just do it tomorrow", is such a big opportunity lost. We often don't see how huge that is, but I implore you, consider it. So much can be accomplished in one day. While nothing really worth doing could ever take only one day, taking each day as a step in the direction we are meant to is one of the most valuable skills you could ever learn. On the flip side, so much momentum could be lost in one day. Never ever underestimate the value of each day. And since we can never know for sure how much time we have left on this Earth, we can only take each day as a blessing that allows us to further glorify God's name, and hope that we don't waste it. You never know right.

Life is more than fame and rock and roll and thrills
All the riches of the kings end up in wills

He goes on to state the futility of living for money. While it is good to plan ahead and think about the future, living only to get more and more money is all a waste; after we die, where does it all go? We lose it all. We can't take our cash into the next life. It is all worthless. The implication is that living for riches is as useless as doing nothing at all. If you are going to devote your life to being wealthy, then you are looking only to the end of this life... but how about after that? What happens after the small tear drop of this universe ends and is lost in the ocean of eternity?

Those who put their faith in things that are temporary will find themselves, at the end of all things, empty and unsatisfied. Only eternal things can serve eternal purposes.

Don't say so long, you're not that far gone
Don't spend today away
Cause today will soon be gone

For those who do feel far gone, don't believe the lie. No one who wants to talk to God is far from God. Those who want God to renew that fire and passion to live every day for Him are only a prayer away. The time of wasted days without Him end as soon as you invite Him back. Not to live for riches or to relax, but to be fullfilled and to live and learn as God intended us to. While society continues to revel in it's own decadence, those willing to take up the call can live as lights in this dark world, showing God to others through living for Him every day.

The days that are gone remain gone, but the ones yet to be lived have the chance to be truly lived. Go hard.

Hey Bono, I'm glad you asked;
Life is still worth living.