It Is My Life and I’ll Do What I Want With It!
by Dick Millwee
Rather a bold, confrontational, in-your-face kind of statement isn't it? Generally, it is made by individuals who try to defend their lifestyle when it is called into question.
However, the concept of the statement is a biblical one. Consider with me the statement found in Psalms 119:109, "My life is continually in my hand, yet, I will not forget thy law." The inspired writer points out a truism of life. An individual, unless intellectually impaired by disease, accident, or birth defect, has total control over the course of life he chooses to take.
Notice the writer says that it is continually in our hands or control. The word "continually" is defined by W. E. Vine as "Always, continually, regularly". There are no exceptions. Consequently, it takes all excuses away for bad behavior. It is not the parents' fault, siblings' fault, friends' fault, teachers' fault, church's fault, etc. It means we are not a victim when we exhibit bad behavior.
In Job 14:1, we are told "Man that is born of woman is short lived and full of problems." Everyone has problems; even Jesus. In Ecclesiastes 9:22, we are told: "...time and chance" happen to all men. The best qualified does not always win, the righteous are not always treated fairly, and the unrighteous sometimes get what they don't deserve. Life is not fair, Satan will see to that.
In the 73rd Psalm, Asaph said that as he pondered the unfairness of life it troubled his mind to the point of discouragement. He said he almost turned his back upon God until he came to the realization that both the righteous and the unrighteous are going to die. He realized it was at death that God would resolve the matter. It was at death the righteous would enter into eternity with God and the unrighteous would enter eternity without God.
God has never promised His children a life free from problems. He has, however, promised us how to deal with any problem we face in life. Peter reveals to us in II Peter 1:3, that in the word of God, we "...have all things that pertain to life and godliness." God gives us direction to deal with life. God allows Satan to bring difficulties into our lives to see how genuine our faith and love for Him really is - "By their fruits, ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20). But with every difficulty that we face in life, God will provide a way of escape (I Corinthians 10:13).
We will all face God on the day of judgment (II Corinthians 5:10). It is at that time our eternal destiny will be determined by whether or not we remember and apply God's law to our life while in the flesh.
Yes, it is our life and it is our decision how we choose to live it. The question we must deal with is this, "Did I choose to live my life according to the will of God." Our choice regarding this question will determine our eternal destiny. It is our choice and we will have to live with it for eternity.
