I look in the Webster’s Dictionary quite often to get definitions of words I am studying, so I can get a clear vantage point to clarify and represent the word properly. Something came to mind today to me that really got me curious. I thought, “What is the definition of the word definition?” I looked once again in the dictionary and saw this; Definition – an exact statement or description of the nature, scope, or meaning of something. Wow! In all my searches to find the meaning of some word, I completely forgot to get the meaning of the word definition itself. Guess I just assumed….. Which brings up a good point. What is your definition? The word we like to use as Christians is your “witness”, but that word doesn’t go deep enough to fully expose the “whole truth and nothing but the truth.” What defines you is a very deeeeeep subject. Why? Because it takes in your whole life. You know, from birth to now. It takes in your childhood, youth years, college age years, early married years (if you married), your years as a young, median, or older parent(if you had children) and all those in between. If you go to God’s Dictionary and look beside your name, what do you see as the definition of YOU? Per the earlier definition of the word uh…definition… What is an exact statement about your life, or a description of your nature, or the scope of your influence, or the meaning of YOU? Who are you? These things don’t even come into focus for a person who is a child, youth, or even a young adult. We only start thinking about them when we get on the back side of thirty or when someone who is close to our age dies. It’s called “reality check” and it is good for us to do this on, get this, a DAILY BASIS! You are probably thinking, “too time consuming and repetitive!” Not so! To be current, think about the Olympic Athletes and their place in history as they compete for their country, their friends and family, and themselves. What will history write about them and how will it define them? They will find out this weekend, as competition begins. You can bet THEY are thinking about it!!
Paul in writing to his son in the faith Timothy addressed the definition of a soldier of Christ. In 2 Timothy 2:1-4 – he writes, “You therefore my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.” This was to be a “defining” moment in the life of Timothy as Paul gave him his “marching orders” and also defined what attitude he would need to have to follow those orders. Of course, we know the definition or witness of Timothy and the impact Christ had through his life. Think about this though; Paul defined the life Timothy was to lead. No more letting days go by thinking about would haves and should haves. Every moment of every day totally focused on serving God.
As you think about Paul’s definition of Timothy’s Call, perhaps it brings to mind God’s definition of your call in life. A call that qualifies and explains who you are as a person. It shows your strengths and weaknesses and your continued dependence on God. It shows that your past doesn’t control you, but your future home in glory doesn’t numb you to the work at hand here on earth. It shows that life just isn’t about being a part of a church as an organization, but investing your life with others to make an impact on the world you live in. You are defined by all that and more. Why not think seriously about how it defines you? Why not do a daily look back at the end of a day and see where things went right and things went wrong and let God further define and fine tune your days ahead by what you have learned today? I am amazed by how little we evaluate anything because we want to avoid the chance of us admitting we could have done some things better. The only thing that makes it even worse is when we don’t learn from it and change. Then our definition would be “a prideful person.” You don’t want that and God doesn’t either. Look at what you have done and how you have lived in the past and if it’s not where it needs to be…..change definitions. When you decide to rewrite your future after learning from your past, that will be your defining moment.
The Pilgrimage continues…..
David Warren