The world has its own set of rules. The world puts its own pies in the sky. Everything looks so good, something to strive after, but when you look what’s behind it all, there is only death, no hope.

Paul is so grateful that he had found the truth. He is overjoyed that sin no longer has any power to keep him chained to the world. 14For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate.

Many people are so caught up in the world that they can’t see anything. Sometimes we make choices that keep us anchored in the world. Sometimes the world wants to buck us off. Sometimes God uses exactly those choices that we made to wrench us away from the world. Annie’s story is very moving:

Look, I had a good life. Drinking, smoking dagga, just hanging around enjoying myself. Everybody preached to me, telling me I have to stop, one day it would be too late, but I didn’t want to. Really! That kind of life was just too good. When I was high nobody could understand how good I felt. I put on my headphones and listened to Pink Floyd talking only to me. Stop? No way!

One evening I was riding with my boyfriend on his tricycle – a three-wheeled motorcycle, one in front and two at the back. It was about two o’ clock. Drunk and high. We went around a corner at Mayville Mall, the tricycle tipped over, I fell off, hit my head, my helmet in pieces. There was no one nearby, because it was two o’ clock in the morning. The police eventually arrived, and called the ambulance to take me away. I was in a coma for two weeks, my head looking like a balloon. I had a stent in my head to alleviate the bleeding in my brain. I nearly died. Weeks later, when I woke up, I could only speak English. Yes, English. I had short-term memory loss. I thought I was still married, I was confused. I was like a baby. In the rehabilitation centre I had to learn to walk again, to take a bath, to eat, everything.

But, said Annie, the Lord had a plan for me. He knew that I had to live and tell others about my miracle. The Lord loves us and opens our ears, in His own way. So that you and I can tell others how much the Lord loves us, nearly let us go to hell like we might have chosen unconsciously, but saved our lives so that our ears can be open, so that we can thank him every day for allowing us to see the little things we normally never noticed, the small things, the ants, the blue sky and the clouds.

For other people the next day is just like the one before, but for me it has a whole new meaning. We appreciate every single day. Like I always say, you can’t throw the Lord’s second chance back in His face.

We’re in the world, but not of the world. The question, however, is: What is important too you? Are your possessions important, the way you climb the ladder of your career, the car your drive, all the degrees on your CV? Or do you boast of God and what He is doing in your life?

It is very important that we should know when we’re caught in the grip of the world and that we’re sometimes going the wrong way. We focus on the wrong dreams. Annie had the wrong dreams, but fortunately God was merciful and planted a stop sign in front of her. He gave her a second chance and helped to open her spiritual eyes.

The challenge for you is to open your eyes. Watch where you’re playing, watch where you’re living, and watch what you have in your sights. Maybe it’s time to make a few adjustments and focus your eyes, no, your whole life, on the cross of Christ.

Galatians 6:11-18

Reflection

How much do you love the world?

Are your sights set on the cross of Jesus?

Do you boast about what God has done for you?

Prayer

Father, I must confess that I sometimes simply waste too much energy on things of this world, things that have no long-term value. I must confess that I boast too little about the real life in Christ. There is no space for that. Actually, it’s obstructing my view of life. I want to stop that. I want to keep my sights on your cross. Amen