Live it up, so live it up, live it up go
Oh, and we ain't stoppin' 'til we're done
Live it up, so live it up, live it up
Go, go, go...
This is the chorus of Jennifer Lopez's new hit single, "Live it up". Directlyrics.com had this to say about J Lo's latest hit, "'Live It Up' is an uptempo dance song that calls for people to forget about their problems, and just go celebrate, and live life to the fullest right now. Partying and hooking-up non-stop."
This idea of "living life to the fullest" is not just found in the music industry. Burger King tells us that we can have it our way. Coca Cola informs us that Life tastes good. We are in a beauty contest every day of our lives according to Camay. IHOP tells us we can come hungry and leave happy. Advertising, music, social networking, even our favorite tv series exhorts us to "live it up". This seems like fair reasoning, after all we only have so many years left, so why not enjoy them?
I would like to make a single statement in response to everything our world has told us is important, You were created to change the world.
Isaiah 61:1 states, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
In the book of Daniel; Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah understood this mandate. These four men grew up in a culture that was frought with idolatry and sin. Allow me to illustrate the completeness of this culture's rebellious posture toward God. We read that the master of the eunuchs in King Nebuchadnezzar's palace changed these young men's names. Daniel 1:7, "To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names, he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach, to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego." The significance of this act was that each one of these men's new name, when translated, were literally different phrases meant to glorify one of the Babylonian dieties. However, these courageous young men held on to what they knew of the one true God even though everything in culture, even their own names told them differently.
Even as Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego changed the culture in which they lived, God is still calling for His children to stand up and make a difference. 1 Timothy 4:11-16 charges us to, "Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you."
Our Heavenly Father has created us and equipped us each uniquely and has charged us to step up into our identity in Christ and into our God-given giftings to effect change in the world. The question remains, will we as Christians be content to allow the world to change our names or will we step out in faith to change the world...?
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