The Creative Life

Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they will find green pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. – John 10:9-10

Many people feel trapped by their day-to-day lives. Their jobs are boring and purposeless. They could spend their whole lives doing what they’re doing right now and it wouldn’t mean a thing. If they died, no one would notice outside of their immediate circle of acquaintances or business associates. They dream of living great lives. They fantasize about adventures and challenges that will fulfill their minds’ cravings for excitement.

Christ calls us to a creative life. He is longing to give us “life in all its fullness.” But first you must possess a firm belief in God. Believe that He exists and that He created the universe and everything in it. Believe that Creator God did not stop with the origin of the universe, but is continuously creating.

Add to your belief in God’s creative genius and power a faith in the fact that He created you in His image. He has made it possible for you to be a co-worker with Him in the never-ending creative process that will culminate in a new heaven and a new earth.

You must also believe that in Jesus Christ God has given you the perfect example to emulate. If you want to know how to live life, watch Christ. If you want to know how to be more like God, imitate the Son of God. By following the teachings of the Christ and by allowing His divine Spirit to guide and empower you, you can live so creatively that your new life will make you feel “born again.”

God has created each of us with a task, a purpose in mind. Seek that vision. Ask the Giver of Good Gifts what He has in mind for you. Climb high enough in the Christian life to gain a vision of the boundless possibilities that lie at hand.

Commit yourself to never being satisfied with the way you do things. Constantly crave improvement. Take courses, study under a master. Travel abroad to see how others do things. Even the great apostle Paul, as he approached the end of his life said “I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.” (Philippians 3:13-14).

Spend some time discovering what the great truths of life are. What are your convictions? What are you prepared to die for? Then learn how best to articulate those thoughts. Don’t just speak them. Write them down. Draw them. Paint them. Sculpt them. Better yet – live them!