Many people say that we should only love God and focus only on Him. Because He is good, and the world is not. Therefore, we should not love life on earth, because everything here is evil. 

That is so untrue. Life is God’s gift of grace to us. It is He who breathed life into us. It is God who gives life to our souls and grants us life on earth so that we can dedicate our souls to God. 

The Fall was a major stumbling block and damaged our hearts. On our own, we tend to get away from God and have nothing to do with Him. Life on earth is hell without God. 

Fortunately, we came to our senses and listened to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Because of God’s grace, we chose God and realized that life was given to us as a gift by God. 

That is why we can love life and can dream of living here on earth as long as possible. You see, when we understand the picture and know that God has breathed life into us, we want and must get up every day with Carpe Diem in our minds and seize the day with everything in us. 

Then we must take care to live healthily, and we must want to do it. For many this realization comes too late in their lives. As young people, we don’t think about our own expiry date. We live as if life goes on forever until the first physical problem arrives. 

Then suddenly you become aware of an end somewhere in the future. You grow a sense of living in such a way that what you do doesn’t speed up that end. That’s why we have to watch what we eat and exercise to keep the rolls around our waist away. 

But here’s some more advice: 9Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, here’s what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; snub evil and cultivate good; 

run after peace for all you’re worth. 

It’s quite simple. Do the right thing. Make sure that beauty comes out of your mouth. Speak blessings over people rather than smearing their name with mud. Always tell the truth and leave out the grey areas. 

Many times, we tarnish our lives with untruths. Then weeds grow in our lives, and we don’t feel so good about ourselves. The net effect is that we don’t want to be on earth that long anymore. 

Let’s try to spread good not only through the way we act, but also through the words that we sow here in the world via our lips. Let’s see where we can give off a good flavour. 

Then people will want to be with us. Then it will be rewarding to see the positive impact we have on others, and we will surely want to live here even longer. May this be true for each of us and may we all live a very long and happy life. 

Scripture
1 Peter 3:8-12

Reflection
What are the words coming from your mouth like?
Do you long for a long life?
Are you on track? 

Prayer
Father, yes, I yearn for a long life so that I can make a big impact on the world! Amen.