Well Lived
What can we bring to the Lord?
Should we bring him burnt offerings?
Should we bow before God Most High
with offerings of yearling calves?
Should we offer him thousands of rams
and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Should we sacrifice our firstborn children
to pay for our sins?
No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:6-8
As a Christian who loves movies, I've always been particularly drawn to science fiction films that reveal deeper meanings with each viewing. One such film that has grown on me over the years is "Oblivion." In this movie, the hero, Jack Harper, embarks on a mission to save humanity, even at the cost of his own life. He quotes a Roman soldier, Horatius, from a poem of a book called ‘Lays of Ancient Rome,’ saying:
To every man upon this earth death cometh soon or late. And how can man die better, than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his Gods.
At the end, Jack tells the enemy, "Everybody dies, Sally. The thing is to die well." These words resonated with me recently as I reflected on life.
As a Christian, these words reminded me of the words of Paul’s about running the race of life. Our lives are gracious gifts from God, and by living it according to His word, we express our gratitude toward Him. This has inspired me today to write about not only the goodness of God but also how living out as He instructs us leads to a life where, as the hero in the movie suggests, we can “die well.”
To live a life well, we must continually grow our hearts toward God. The words of Micah today highlight what is truly ‘what is good’ in a seemingly simple way. It is important to not only focus on what God required but also recognize the things that might ‘sound good’ but do not meet His true desires. While things such as burnt offerings, and rituals for repentance might seem like they fulfill our obligations, they are not at the heart of what God wants for us. Reflecting on the book of James, we remember the verse, “Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.” (James 2:26) This reminds us that it is not just about doing good works to earn God’s approval. It is about having a heart that produces those good works. In that same vain, Micah teaches us that we should strive to love as God loves, show mercy as He has shown us mercy, and be humble for all He has done for us. These are the ingredients for a life that is truly well lived.
In life, true value comes from those things that money cannot buy. We often define our life by tangible things we have. However, Jesus Christ taught us a different way to live well. In His final words to the disciples, He said:
When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. John 15:10-12
It is not about the material things we acquire or give away. Instead, it is the love have for God and others that truly define us. Let us focus on finding value in God’s love and our love for others. How can we move beyond simply “going through the motions” of faith and instead cultivate a heart that genuinely reflects God’s love and mercy? What way can we focus on finding value in God’s love and our love for others? My prayer is that in this season, we shift our focus away from gifts and presents and more importantly toward living a life that, in the end, is truly well lived. Amen.