Life at Another Level

What does it mean to advance to a new level?

Life is meant to be lived on levels. We begin as infants, fully dependent upon our parents to care for our every need. We learn to crawl, walk, run, and suddenly our world get’s much larger now the world didn’t shrink, our desires just grew up. The desire to explore beyond the boundary was confined by our inability to move, but one day we stood up and our little legs propelled us forward as we ventured out to conquer the world. The personal victories achieved at our previous level establish the pillars of support for our future vision.

Have you ever noticed how boxing champions who have retired with the World Championship title just can’t seem to ride off into the sunset? What would cause them to come out of retirement and go back into the ring for another fight, other than the millions of dollars they will receive for just showing up? I believe it is the desire to go one more round! It is the call of the next level beckoning them beyond the boundary of retirement and back into the ring of life! The fighter in them is still alive, and cannot accept the title of retirement.

I am convinced that if World Champion Boxer, George Foreman, did not have Jesus….. and his grill, he would be back in the ring today. He is among the few previous World champions that have reinvented themselves successfully. There’s a whole bunch of people that never saw him box, but they sure do like his, “lean mean grilling machine!”

Jesus Christ reveals to us how to handle each new level in life, as we complete our God-given assignment. His Instructions lead to fulfillment and contentment. Ambitious pursuits usually sacrifice other people at the expense of personal gain.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV) says it like this. 18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

With each new level in our life, we discover the value that our contribution brings. It might be the compensation of a large income, a position of influence, or perhaps notoriety of some sort.  Or, It might be peace and contentment upon which no value can be place. Whatever the achievement, if we stay in God, we are given the opportunity to mature as a person in every area of our life, and this includes spiritual maturity as well.

In His Service

Mark Matthews