In 2000 the show “Survivor “ debuted on TV. While not the first of its kind, Survivor set the stage for a new type of entertainment. Realty TV.
This show places a random group of strangers in an isolated location where they compete for the title of Survivor. Along the way, they have to provide their own food, shelter & water in order to physically survive. Additionally, they must complete challenges that test their physical and mental abilities in order to gain immunity from elimination. Bottom line? Last man or woman standing wins the prize.
Sometimes we approach life like that show. We scrape and strive trying to make our way. We step on one another trying to out-work, out-spend, and out-succeed each other. And I know if you’re honest with yourself, there are some people in your life that you wish you could just vote off the island.
We trudge though our Monday through Friday lives wishing for the weekend. With that in mind, I want to pose a question. Survive Or Thrive; Which Life are you Living?
Some of us, sadly, settle for the life that Adam and Eve were “sentenced” to when they were exiled from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:17-19). We struggle though everything life throws our way just to survive. But God has so much more for each of us. In the words of Casting Crowns, we were made to Thrive.
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:19
This verse speaks to me of more than just “survival”
When the serpent tempted Eve to eat of the fruit of the tree, he did so with intent to destroy her absolute faith and trust in God.
In John 10:10, Jesus tells his followers, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Clearly the serpent is the “The thief” that Jesus references in John 10:10. He appeared to Eve and in their short interaction, He stole her trust in what God had said. He killed their innocence. He destroyed her intimate relationship with God.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10.
Abundant is defined as: Present in great quantity; more than adequate; over-sufficient; well supplied with something; abounding, and (my favorite definition) richly supplied.
The actual Greek text of this word (abundant) from John 10:10 is Beyond what is anticipated. Exceeding Expectation, Going Past the Expected Limit, Over & Above, More than is Necessary.
So how do we get from where we are now to an “abundant” life.
Shortly after Jon passed, I found myself being referred to a survivor. You know what I mean…. Jon is survived by his wife and three daughters…..
That word “survived” didn’t sit well with me. I understand the positive connotation of being a survivor. We cheer for those who have survived the horrors of war. We celebrate with those who have survived cancer. We recognize those who have survived fires, floods, tornados, and other natural disasters. I think that the title “Survivor” is significant and should be celebrated.
But for me it isn’t enough. I remember specifically telling God that I didn’t want to just survive, I wanted to thrive. I don’t want to walk through the remainder of my time here in a cloud of grief; living life on auto-pilot. Instead, I want to continue to grow and be used in a way that matters; not only me, but to those around me. Which brings me back to my early question. Survive Or Thrive? Which Life are you Living?
Anna Akbari, Ph.D, writes in her article Surviving Vs Striving, “What’s the difference between surviving and thriving? Surviving is a grim struggle—you’re white-knuckling life, just barely getting by. Thriving is living and thinking abundantly. Surviving is a drag, a daily slog to stay alive. Thriving is joyful and infectious.”
I don’t know what this writer’s relationship with God is like, but she clearly has captured Jesus’ words about living (and thinking) abundantly.
From a practical standpoint, I believe there are three steps we can take to move us along the path from survive to thrive.
The first step to abundant life is to learn the art of “taking every thought captive.” In 2nd Corinthians 10:5, Paul writes, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
This is a huge concept and it is foundational to everything else. Remember, the thief comes to steal, to kill, and, to destroy and it starts in our thoughts and our minds. Learning to not let the enemy pull our emotional strings like some puppet is the first and most import step to entering into that abundant life that Jesus spoke of.
The second step is to really embrace joy. Joy should not be confused by happiness. Joy is not circumstantial. Joy is that deep abiding feeling that resonates through our spirits and spills over to those around us. We can feel joy because we are children of the most-high God. Nothing in life should be able to diminish that joy. Things can still make you sad. You may still struggle with tears of sorrow. Laughter will not always be on your lips. But real JOY should always be in your heart.
The third step – is to rest in HIS peace. In John 14:27, Jesus said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
God’s peace has already been given to us. Note the tense of the sentence. “My peace I give to you.” Not, am going to give…. not will give…. but I Give. Present tense. It is already ours. We only have to reach out and take it. God’s peace is ours to accept or reject – regardless of the circumstances. We need to stop looking at the waves, stop paying attention to the storms, and instead focus on the ONE who calms the storms.
The enemy we fight against is very real. He’s as real today as he was in the Garden when he tricked Eve into eating from the tree. He uses the same tricks and has cheap imitations that may look good on the surface, but only lead to death – spiritual and emotional death… and sometimes physical death.
Job success, money, possessions, fame, popularity, and social media status will NOT help you to thrive and have that abundant life that Jesus was talking about. Those are just things that are here today and can be gone tomorrow. Jesus warned us…. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
Focus on these three things. Practice them every day – even multiple times a day if you need to. You will find that by:
Taking every thought captive it will change your outlook.
Embracing Joy will change how you interact with others.
Resting in His Peace will take care of everything else.
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