Livin' the Dream

“Therefore Jesus said again, ‘Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’” (John 10:7-10 NIV)

There is a long-standing notion that college life comprises the best time of life for a student.  Well-meaning adults will tell soon-to-be freshmen to enjoy their years on campus for they’ll be “the best years of your life.” There is a sense that college is the last fun experience before the oppressive weight of adulthood is handed to us and, thus, should be enjoyed to its fullest.  But what do they mean?

I recently had a conversation with the nurse involved in the cardiac rehab program in which I currently participate.  I was telling her of my relationship with a man she worked with whom I know well and who is an alumnus of the ministry I direct. I shared how he had gotten his life straightened out late in college through his relationship with the Lord and had become a wonderful husband, father, and a member of our Board of Directors.  Her response?  She was glad to hear it, but also glad he was able to have fun and enjoy his college experience.

This is a classic misunderstanding people have of following Jesus.  You better have all your fun before you start down that path because there is no fun in following Him!  Isn’t this why so many students raised in churches and involved in youth groups go off to college bent on leaving their religious past behind, or keeping it on the fringe, so they can have fun and enjoy their college years?  In the parlance of the day, their goal is to be livin’ the dream.  

But what those of us who work on campus know is that college life for many is no dream; it’s closer to a nightmare.  Anxiety, depression, and binge drinking often dominate students’ lives, even among those attending church on a weekly basis.

Note that this is exactly what Jesus warned against.  Turning away from Him leads us into the trap laid by our enemy to steal from us the blessings of a godly life, to kill our hope, and to destroy our souls.  Livin’ the dream is in reality following Jesus and obeying His commands.  It is through Him, and Him alone, that we will experience true joy and fulfillment.  The notion that true enjoyment can only come by casting aside the shackles of a godly life is a lie directly from Hell.

Today, consider if you are falling for this lie as well. Do you believe life can be a lot more enjoyable if you keep Jesus at bay, on the fringes of your life? Or if you live your life on the fence—having just enough of Jesus to make you feel good about yourself, but not enough to intrude on the way you want to live your life?  If so, know you have stepped into the trap meant to destroy you.  What the world says will impinge on your enjoyment of life in actuality is what will lead you to experiencing it fully.  The truth is, following Jesus IS livin’ the dream.

© Jim Musser 2017