is life worth living or worth giving away?

Before I continue with anything... I want to share a video with you. Unfortunately, YouTube is LAME and won't let me post the video on here, for some odd reason....sooooo if you click this link it should go to it :) Now, I am not in ANY WAY condoning any of it. But it is going to make my point across once you are done watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koVHN6eO4Xg

So, live your life. Eh? Whether you're a believer of Jesus Christ or not, what do you think it means to truly say "Live your life to the fullest"? In listening to the lyrics of the song, it's kind of sad don't you think? I mean, money, fame, popularity... they're all great, sure. Yet, somehow I truly believe that those things fade. Once you have enough money, you'll just want more. Once people like you, you'll continue to altar yourself to make more people like you. The more famous you are, the more you continually talk about yourself, love yourself, and try to cater to yourself. Sad life. I know that before I even knew the Lord, I tried so many things to make me happy. Some things were harmless, others were harmful. Yet, I felt that even in the things that were harmless, I ended up still being empty.

This whole mentality of "chase the paper" (money) is it really satisfying? One thing I liked about the video.. his attempt and success at getting out of the old life of crime and gangs to live better and become free. Awesome. Yet, there's still so much that seems meaningless.

When I continue to think upon all that the Lord has done in my life, I think about the University I had attended before coming home. So many lost souls, so many people searching, trying to fill the void with anything and everything they can. Sure, to them it's not 'filling the void' they're simply living their life and having fun so I should back off.. right? Yet, my heart can't help but to break for these people. I look around and want so badly to love on them, care for them and do something to help. Maybe they don't need help or don't want help.

Yet, the truth is, whether or not they choose to believe it nothing they do will satisfy their longing or desires like Jesus. It's so true. When I surrendered my life to the Lord, I truly never felt an ounce of loneliness, sadness, or depression. I never wondered "What am I doing with my life?" or, "What's going to happen when I die? What's the purpose of life?"

The purpose of life, is that you have been created for a unique, beautiful purpose. God didn't create you and then say "Ok so & so, have a great life, do what you want. Live it up!" No... in fact, God created you so that you could fulfill a precious purpose in this life. Not for you, but for Him and His kingdom in heaven. You were created to make a difference. I'm not one of those people who loves to preach 'You were created to make a difference! Go out! Do community service! Share love! Give hugs!' Those are all great things, yes..but there's a deeper meaning in all this than what the eye sees. The heart must understand, we were created for GOD, and only for Him. We were created to love Him, to serve Him, and to want to spend our lives loving on others, and bringing the good news to them. This is our purpose. Ministry is a different thing. Wherever we are...it's a ministry. God has called us EACH to a divine unique purpose in this life for Him. So what are we doing with our lives?

Some may be living it for themselves. Getting drunk on weekends, experimenting with sex other days. Some may be quiet, lonely and to themselves. Others might be famous..trying to keep the money rolling in. Yet, even before I knew the Lord, I was all these things. I tried every single thing I could to try and make me happy. None of it satisfied. God pursued me in a beautiful way...He never once let me go through it all. I pray that He is pursuing you in the same way.

I know He loves you and I know He wants you to get to know Him. The sin I was in was only leading me to hell. I was a sinner, in desperate need of a Savior. My way and my end was death. Hell forever. Yet when I surrendered my life unto Jesus and began to live for Him, He prepared a place for me in heaven. An eternal home.

I say this a lot but this place is not my home. I am not excited, nor storing up treasures on this earth because someday soon, I will be going to my eternal Home... the place where I so long to get to! Heaven! I will be sitting at the feet of Jesus, worshiping Him, loving Him, listening to Him speak. Can you imagine? We go to church and worship Him most days of the week...with fellowship, song and the Bible, but can you imagine actually being NEXT to Jesus? Listening to His word? From Him? Ugh...the thought captivates me!

My eternal home is one where, when I am close to going to it, I won't be upset, sad, fearful..I'll be excited, joyful, anticipating the hour when I get to meet my Jesus face to face. Why? Because I know where I'm going.

I don't have to sit and question whether I'll be going to heaven or hell. And yes, hell is real. God spoke about hell more than anyone in the Bible. Maybe you don't question whether you're destined for heaven or hell. Maybe you think you're a good enough person so you're golden. Think again. There is no one good, the Bible says. Not one. Or, maybe you refuse to believe the fact that there's a hell and you believe when you die, nothing happens. Are you sure? How can you be so sure?

My dad makes a good point sometimes. He says, "What do you have to lose?" If you're wondering, 'seriously, this heaven/hell stuff...could it be so?' I challenge you to open up a Bible and read it. To go through it and challenge yourself. Seriously...maybe you don't believe or are confused on what to believe. But what do you have to lose?

Where are you going? Do you know? If not, please, don't wait until it's too late.

Don't just "live ya life"... because this life is so worth giving away to the One who gave His life on the cross for you. If you don't trust me as far as you can throw me....trust me on this ONE thing. It is so worth it.

"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works." Matthew 16:25-27