If only. these words pop up in my mind constantly and i hear them spoken frequently by those around me.

If only i had more time. If only i had more money. If only i was married. If only i was single. If only i could go to this thing, talk to this person, watch this movie, read this book

then ___ would happen and life would be better and more complete and i would be happy.

I start to long for these with only’s and i sense deep within me a desire for something that these are only symptoms of; a relationship with someone who will never leave me, who will tell me the truth, who will love me when i am unlovable, who has my ultimate good in mind.

I have this already and there is no ideal that i have dreamed up in my mind that could ever come close to it. Jesus is the ultimate reality and life in His kingdom is the life He died to bring. Since the fall of mankind in Genesis we have only been able to dream of the ideal because of the sin and darkness that separated us from God. Now that Jesus has come he is actively reconciling those who believe in him back to God. As we know Jesus more we become more real, we become alive, we become what God designed us to be.

Eternal life is not only life that doesn’t end but a quality of life that reflects the character and will of God. In the book of John, Jesus said:

“and this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”- John 17:3

As i learn to trust Jesus and understand that he desires my good and that he is the key to real living i find that all things in life are working to this end; that God might receive glory and that i might receive hope and joy and love and peace and purpose.

This process of being made real is not an easy one. so…where are you at?