In this chapter of Engaging God's World, Plantinga talks about vocation and how are we going to live our life. As Christians, we are to live hoping for the kingdom of God. "Successful living depends especially on fitting our small kingdom inside God's big kingdom, always recalling where we got our dominion in the first place. Each of us is king or queen over a little. God's kingdom is 'over all'." We have to live our life, the small kingdom, to fit into God's big kingdom, which is the universe. Working in the kingdom of God and living for it. This should be our way of life, but now the question is are you going to be just a good citizen in the kingdom of God or a prime citizen in the kingdom of God. All of us are people with callings. We are called to followers of Jesus and we have to serve for His kingdom. That is our main vocation. After all, we have to remember that we cannot do this on our own. We have to lean into God's grace and let it hold us up. Through knowledge, skills, and virtues, we are to find what we really want to be so that we will serve Him the best. Even "education is for service in the kingdom."
In my case, I grew up in a Christian family. I learned that the best thing you could ever do with your life is to live life for God. Living life for God is not easy at all. I say that I should live life for God, but there are still many times that I forget and want to live my way doing whatever I want. Going to church every Sunday, going to Christian school, and being surrounded by tons of Christians doesn't mean that I am actually a good Christian and that I am living life for God. I haven't decided my major yet. I don't really know what I am going to do with my life. Many of my friends have already planned out how they are going to live the next ten years at least. I don't even know what I'm going to be doing this summer. I was always taught that for everything I do I should glorify His name. I think that is the hardest thing one could ever do in this world. Yet, it is possible. And right now I'll say that we are all called to do that. Study, sleep, eat, talk,,,, Do all that for Him. I might not know what I'll major in or what my job will be or what I'll be doing in the next ten years, but at least I'll get an idea of what direction I should be going.
You did a great job of connecting this chapter with your personal life in this post. I agree that just by knowing that no matter what we do, as long as we do it for Christ,we are serving His kingdom. Knowing that can help decrease some of the stress of figuring out majors and careers. As long as you have God as your guide, pointing out His path,you are headed in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteLiving for God is amazingly difficult, but when it all comes down to it, everything won't last. All that will remain is our souls, and those of who we can convert. That makes working for God infinitely more important than anything else we can do on earth (although many things we do are still working for God).
ReplyDeleteIt's def. been a challenge living a full on life for God, especially when you've been led to go to a lot of very different places. However, I'm always reminded of the present, of how God has led all of us to the immediate reality in which we stand, and we have no choice but to be thankful. God is good!
ReplyDeleteIt is very difficult to live for God, and sometimes it is even harder trying to figure out what it is that God wants us to do.
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