Meaning

​There is a long stretch of freeway between Fayetteville, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia, that is mostly flat and lined by lush green pine trees.  It’s the kind of drive where hundreds of miles can all look pretty much the same. 

Most machines need tune-ups.  I need occasional four-wheel journeys.  There is something therapeutic about driving for me—as long as the highway is not jammed with motorists all trying to get someplace faster than the laws of physics permit.  Most of us spend too much time honking at our own taillights when we ought to be setting aside time to reflect on life’s true meaning.  

I remember driving my family down a mountain pass one winter on icy roads.  An accident ahead caused several vehicles to converge and, in the process, block the road. We were able to fit by the width of our car through the narrowing gap and escape injury.  My heart beat must have hit 200 bpm!  You may have experienced your own harrowing incident where life had the opportunity to wrestle death and there was a good chance death would win the take-down.  Suddenly life becomes exceedingly precious.  

It shouldn’t take jolts of lightning to zap our awareness that it is good to be alive.  We need to get away and ponder what it means to breathe, to think, to love, to hurt, to care.  I’m not 100 years old but I’ve discovered something too valuable to let go.  There is no greater meaning in life than to worship God.  I see too many people who are going through the motions and their reward is cramps. Why?  Because perpetual motion void of purpose is as useful as a turtle trying to mate an ostrich.  

Where is the meaning . . .

• in slaving through life to gain a splendid retirement for a worn-out body? 
• in putting kids in day care to earn more money to have more and better things when what the children want is nothing more than to have time with dad and mom?
• in staring at a boob tube programmed to scorch the conscience, numb the mind, glorify sex, model violence, mock God and devalue humanity?
• in speed?  Why does everything have to be fast?  

​Are you feeling frazzled, over-starched, under-loved, burnt-out or emotionally bankrupt?  Consider this!  God painted unbelievable colors on tropical fish for our enjoyment.  He made plants with medicinal properties for our health. He fashioned sunsets, songbirds, roses, huckleberries and feathers for our viewing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching pleasure!  Most of all He gave us His Son so that we might know Him.  In Him there is meaning. . . something to think about in reveration. 
 
Meditation
Psalm 27:4--I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking Him in His temple.
 
Inspiration
How long does it take us to know what the true meaning of our lives are?  One half second.—Oswald Chambers in The Highest Good
 
©1998 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)