Years in Life or Life in Years

       Today’s post reminds me of a bible passage that says “With long life I will satisfy thee …” (Psalm 91:16). What exactly does this mean? Long life, does this mean a promise of living up to a thousand years; if yes why do the young die, why do the Godly get bereaved these are questions that cross our mind. I recently read about a Christian woman who was martyred while preaching the word of God does this mean that a promise was broken or that she was not godly enough; I am here to tell you it means neither.

      If I take a survey asking how many years you want to live on earth about 70% of my readers would want to live above the age of 80 because they feel at that point they shall be fulfilled, at that point their dreams must have come to pass just as daily we all ponder on that next step we desire to take, that next action or that next achievement we are pushing towards so also do those people who die on a daily basis make plans. Does this mean we stop making plans and just go with the flow?

I have left two great questions unanswered but with time I hope to clarify it all with my basic knowledge and understanding.

      A lot of us choose to live to our 100’s (Including myself) but have you ever pondered that why do some people live to that age but still remain unfulfilled but yet some people die as early as their 20’s but have left their mark in the world. One must aspire not just to have years in their life but to have life in their years. I recently lost a friend, a very devoted young man with a lot of dreams and aspirations, most of which he had begun. Although most people might view it that he had not reached his peak, it became clear to me that he had enough life in his years no matter how short those years were. He was able to make a difference, he had his spot even if it was not on the Hollywood walk of fame, it was all but stamped in the hearts of those who met him. Whereas some live as long as long can be and never have a fraction of this impact. Why you might ask, the difference between these two persons is purpose.

https://www.google.com/purpose

     Purpose is that which we are to attain in life, that which we are selected for. Do not misquote me based on the above placed scenarios that the younger you die, the more likely that your purpose has been fulfilled no this is not my stand. In days of old several people lived long while still achieving their purpose and making their mark, they had the opportunity of having both years in their life and life in their years. What makes then so different from now is the mindset and characters the new generation have formed. Nowadays, we all tend to just go with the flow, never taking time to actually search and discover our purpose in life; you might tell me but I have aspirations, yes that I know, but are those aspirations your real purpose. I might aspire to be some business personnel on wall street but If that is not my purpose regardless of the perks I receive, satisfaction would always elude me; that is me missing out on the important concept of life in your years.

    

 I know your next question would be, how do I separate my purpose from my aspirations?

• Aspirations could be selfish but your purpose is always selfless, it being selfless does not mean you live like a pauper. No, it simply means that the mindset behind your actions is not to add to you but to make a desirable difference.
• Aspirations may bring about dissatisfaction but your purpose always brings about satisfaction.

How do you discover your purpose?

• Discovering your purpose is not a slam bang kind of operation, it is a process that requires you to seek the face of God (Yes, you know I can never leave Him out of my equation), asking that for what reason did He take such time to mold you and like my favorite Bible passage says “For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb (psalm 139:13)”.

     Your journey to fulfilling your purpose is not paved all through with gold, it would bring about some difficulties but the wonderful thing is that all such difficulties would be surpassed.

Backing up to my earlier bible passage (Psalm 91:16), it reveals that we would fill out the measure of our days, and whether we die young or old we would be satisfied with life enough to be ready to leave it because we have achieved all that is needed of us without any other quota to be filled.

My question to you is this are YOU just adding years to your life or are you making sure to add life to your years?

We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths;
In feelings, not in figures on a dial.
We should count time by heart throbs.
He most lives who thinks most, feels noblest, acts the best.
Philip James Bailey