Living 🔄 Existing

I was at work about to turn over to take a short nap and I heard this in my spirit “Living or Existing?”

Instantly I became totally awake, even though it was in the middle of the night so I grabbed my phone and started typing. The scripture that dropped in my spirit as I started writing was Galatians 2:20 which says: 

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

As I pondered for a while where this was coming from, I realised God’s Spirit was speaking to me.

You see, the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it (Psalm 24 KJV) therefore, everything that has been created has the right to exist. This then brings me to ask the question: what does it mean to exist?

Dictionary definition: 

Exist: to have objective reality or being.

live · be alive · be living · have life · breathe · draw breath · be · have being · have existence · be extant

So to exist simply put, is to have life; to be. I wonder, is it enough just to be? 

Let’s see what the dictionary says about living before we turn to the word of God and bring some eye opening perspective.

Living

NOUN

1. an income sufficient to live on or the means of earning it.”she was struggling to make a living as a dancer” · [more]

   synonyms:livelihood · income · source of income · means of support · means · [more]

2. the pursuit of a lifestyle of the specified type. “the benefits of country living”
   synonyms:
   way of life · lifestyle · manner of living · way of living · mode of living · life · conduct · behavior · activities · customs · habits · ways

Isn’t it interesting that living is tied up to occupation and making a living to earn an income? But when you think about it, it kind of makes sense in the material world we live in.One can’t just float by existing; one has to be engaged in doing something that is profitable that results in receiving an income; and that income supports one’s life. Pay for food, clothing, accommodation, etc.

In order to live, you have to have a sustainable source of income. But what I want to drive home here is that living is more proactive than existing for there are natural characteristics that accompany existing. 

Living on the other hand, has more of a learned behavior. It involves conducting oneself in a certain way, you know, acquiring some habits and customs; living is purpose driven.

So let me ask again, are you living or are you existing, with Galatians 2:20 in mind. I churned that thought in my mind for a while as I studied that word and this is what I realized.

Everyone has a right to exist and live their lives as they please, do what they want when they want within the jurisdiction of the laws of the land wherever one lives. But when one identifies as a born again believer, permit me to address this particular group of people, there is a death to existing, and with that death comes a new life. What I like to call: the real living. 

Galatians 2:20 says : I have been crucified: which  means, the death Jesus died on my behalf, I accept by faith and die to my existence allowing him to live in me! That changes behavior, customs, conduct, and the whole sequence of living.

Remember, the Word of God is one’s yardstick to real living.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness – 2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)

As we see above, being born again calls for right living which equates to righteousness. What does the dictionary say?

Righteousness

NOUN

1. the quality of being morally right or justifiable.”we had little doubt about the righteousness of our cause” · [more]
   synonyms:
   goodness · virtue · virtuousness · uprightness · decency · integrity · worthiness · rectitude · probity · morality · ethicalness · high-mindedness · justice · honesty · honor · honorableness · innocence · blamelessness · guiltlessness · [more]

Sometimes it helps to see it in black and white. This is, first and foremost, for me to look inward and search myself to determine whether I am truly existing or simply living. And I urge you, my esteemed reader, to do the same. Like the word says, iron sharpens iron, man sharpens man.

I look at all those virtues that come out of righteousness and I feel challenged to do much better than I am presently doing. The world is living by a double standard and more and more one is being propelled towards “self care”with the connotation that it’s all about oneself. Do what makes one happy and what pleases one. I personally realise it is not all about me or what I want: I have surrendered my life to Christ. I have an obligation to find out how He wants me to conduct myself. How should I treat others, how should I live to please Him, because if I am in Christ then the life I now live it is not me that lives but Christ lives in me. 

The sum total of true living is anchored on that word righteousness. It is being morally right. Being mindful about one’s conduct and behavior  

• goodness ·
• virtue · 
• virtuousness · 
• uprightness ·
• decency ·
• integrity ·
•  worthiness ·
•  rectitude ·
•  probity · 
• morality ·
• ethicalness ·
• high-mindedness · 
• justice ·
• honesty ·
• honor · 
• honorableness · 
• innocence ·
• blamelessness · 
• guiltlessness

These are words that can guide anyone on how to treat themselves and others.

In the course of this year we will be taking each one of these words and breaking them open to help us equivocally live fully and not just exist.

Prayer:

God of heaven and earth, in your capacity and ability to mold that which is yielded to you, will you please realign our allegiances to lineup with your word and your son Jesus our Lord and savior, Help us to remember we are a city set on a hill in display to the whole world. Give us the courage to live righteously before all; to be an example of our Saviour, that we may be meek as doves and wise as serpents. To live in the midst of an existing world. And draw others to you, we ask in Jesus name.