Permission Granted
Day 50: Freedom To Live Your Best Life Now
[11] Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. [12] For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them. (ESV)
-Ecclesiastes 9:11–12
Is your life just random chance? Do you feel stuck in patterns or restrictions that you wish you didn’t have? Are you living the good life right now, or do you hope to someday?
Freedom to live your best life now is available to you in this moment. Freedom is actively pursuing you as you read this. Freedom wants to find you. You don’t have to find freedom; you just have to slow down long enough for freedom to tackle you, and change your mind about all of your assumptions.
The book of Ecclesiastes is required reading for anyone who wants to find freedom, wisdom, and a life of purpose. It was written by Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived until Jesus was born. He describes his journey and conclusions. Life looks random; everything seems to be by chance and senseless; and weariness and vanity seem to be our only response. But then, he starts to perceive God as the mysterious force behind everything. He realizes that he can’t figure out God, but that God is behind everything.
Solomon didn’t have all the pieces to the puzzle like we do. He didn’t know about Jesus, the Son of God who suffered unjustly at the hands of wicked men. The perfectly wise and good and righteous One lived a very short, ordinary life, and died as a criminal on the cross. What vanity! What a senseless waste! Why God? Where is Your justice, righteousness, and holiness?
God was proving that He is just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:26). Jesus took our vanity, our futility, our foolishness and selfishness to the cross, then resurrected on the third day to bring us eternal life, meaning, purpose, and full access to God, who is the meaning of life. This is our “why” answer—the cross and resurrection prove that we must believe God even when we don’t agree or understand what He is saying.
True freedom is obedience to God without conditions.
True freedom is getting rid of our “I’ll pay You back, God” attitude. We have to receive His unconditional grace, and respond with unconditional obedience, worship, and trust. True freedom comes from surrender, and results in worship with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
We all have two circles that we live in: our inner circle of responsibility, and our outer circle of concern (see Paul Tripp’s book, Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands, figure 13.1). What is mine to change, and what is outside of my control? I obey God in my inner circle, and I trust God with everything in my outer circle. I can put things in His nail-pierced hands, and know that He will do what is best. There is no “payback” for me any more. God doesn’t hold my sins against me, and I can’t hold other’s sins against them. God is showing me a new way of life: look up! Stop looking down into the sinkhole of my own prejudices, my own judgments about right and wrong, my own assumptions of the meaning of life, and instead look up at the cross of Jesus Christ. Now I can climb “Purpose Mountain” with Jesus, and stop thinking of my life as only “for Jesus” or “for myself.”
How about you? God cares intimitely about you. God is cheering for you, and wants your good. God is patient, kind, gentle, loving, and faithful, just like the fruit of the Spirit we have been studying. God is actively pursuing you, and wants to transform your life with the freedom that only He can give you. Stop running away. Stop sinking down into your hopeless, helpless, loveless situation apart from Him. God is always working; He never sleeps or rests until all His children are safely home with Him.
Father, we want to climb “Purpose Mountain” with You. We want to get out of the sinkhole— stinkin’ thinkin’ that is keeping us away from You. Help us to wave the white flag of surrender, and allow You to change our minds about all our assumptions and beliefs that are based on lies from the enemy. Thank you for relentlessly pursuing us. Help us to say “Yes” to You, now, and always. Let us seek Your wisdom, and find it every day. Give us real gratitude, and a real contribution to Your kingdom that You have already planned out for every single one of us. Help us to find rest in You, as You have promised us true rest in Your loving arms. Thank You for Jesus, who knew ultimate restlessess as He sank into the deepest pit of Your wrath, our sin, and all that He suffered for our sake. Let us look up to Jesus, fix our eyes on Him, and find unconditional grace and mercy in our time of need. We are of all people most blessed, most free, and most hopeful. In Jesus’ mighty Name, Amen.
TL;DR Summary:
Day 50: Freedom To Live Your Best Life Now
Lie: Life is meaningless. There is nothing new under the sun, so why bother trying to find your purpose? You will die and be forgotten by everyone.
Truth: Jesus endured infinite suffering and death so that He could give us eternal life, meaning, purpose, and relationship with God. Only God is eternal. God will never forget His children.
World’s Pattern: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. Don’t think too much or you will be depressed. Suicide is always an option, because at least then you can prove that you are in control of your own destiny.
Kingdom Pattern: God wants us to think, to ask questions, and to seek for wisdom. He wants us to find Him, because He is chasing us down. When we surrender to God, we find everything we need for life and godliness and meaning and purpose, all in the gospel message of Jesus Christ. God has a plan for each of His children: a specific role that only they can play in His grand story of redemption. Look up! Climb “Purpose Mountain” with Jesus.
For Further Study: Read Ecclesiastes 11
The first six verses give us a wise framework for taking risks, knowing that we cannot predict anything that happens around us. Only God is omniscient, and our plans matter to God—so seek God in all your planning, but don’t be afraid. Ask God for wisdom, courage, and faith as you make your plans today.
Verse 5 is a wonderful prompt for worship and journaling. How did God make you? If you don’t understand that, then why are you so upset about all the other things you don’t know? Worship more, worry less! If God is holy and good, He will never lie to you. You can trust Him.
Keep sowing your seed (verse 6)! Are you discouraged at your “return on investment” in your time, efforts, and talents? Here’s a mental shift: are you working for God or with God? Let your heart sense God’s presence with you in every moment, bringing meaning and purpose to every second of your existence, whether you see a good outcome in your lifetime or not. He is with you! He delights in you because of Jesus! Your reward is certain, and you can always have more of Jesus if you ask!
“Teach us to number our days, so that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Verses 8-10 have a similar message. Do you see the gospel in verse 9? Jesus took our judgment for us, and gave us righteousness instead. How does that change your decision-making today? Are you trying to earn your standing with God? How can you receive it by grace through faith, and then live out of that joy instead of fear?
The fear of the Lord is essential for a wise, godly life. How can you make God’s wrath your greatest fear today instead of the fear of man, fear of failure, or fear of insignificance? When you see Jesus taking every drop of God’s wrath on your behalf, you will see your life completely change. You will live to please God by faith, and make all your decisions based on Him, not on your own opinions.
End your time by writing a declaration of freedom. What has God freed you from? What has God freed you to? Ask Him, “What is Your God-sized dream for me?”
I have enjoyed this journey with you towards freedom, healing, and hope. Jesus is our freedom, Jesus is the good life, and Jesus is the glory and joy of our hearts, now and forever.
Please let me know what you have learned from this 50 Days of Freedom Challenge. Your feedback makes me a better writer, teacher, and counselor. Comment below, or respond to this email.
For more freedom, watch this Drink from the River of Delight podcast with Bill Faris MPC: “Get Out of That Sinkhole! Climb Purpose Mountain Instead!”
For more about me, and to book a call with me, please visit my website.
You can reach Bill Faris MPC on his website or YouTube Channel.
THANKYOU Very Much. JA , it spoke volumes to me today 7/4. Happy fourth
Jj