We live in an age where motivation is everything but not many are motivated. Many students of this age struggle with finding a reason to continue with their education. They can't see very far into their future and there doesn't seem to be much that motivates or interests them. We could turn around and blame television, computers, video games and even music but I think that would be coming up with excuses. I think it is more a matter of being more keenly aware of the importance of education in every field of interest. I was in my last year of High School before I decided what I wanted to do but no students need to know by grade 8 so they can take all the right courses. It is hard to be motivated when you have not learned enough about yourself to know what you are interested in. Yet, there is a decreasing amount of proper motivation in all areas of life.
Even Christians struggle with the motivation to live holy lives, to do the good works God has prepared for us, and to remain determined to do it to our last breath. Worship is easy. We just go in a sing some songs and go home. To posses a heart of worship is another matter. To be nice to people is easy. To help in a way that will cost you money and time is another matter. To do what is right is not so hard. To do what is right when no one will find out that you didn't is yet another matter. What is our motivation for living a life that honours our Lord Jesus Christ?
Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. (1 Peter 1:17)
Hopefully our first motivation is love but if that should slip at all we should be reminded of the dark side. Our Father is an impartial judge. There will be no biases, no favours, no extended grace on that day. Today we live in an age of grace but that is so we can learn to be more like Jesus. When that day of judgment comes, we either did it or we didn't. Peter encourages that we should live with "reverent fear" instead of abusing grace because the works we have been given to do will be judged. Remember that our Father will not be pleased if we take his best and do nothing with it:
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Peter 1:18-19)
Having given us his most priceless and precious gift, do you think he will be pleased to discover we have treated it with contempt and trampled it under foot? We should have hearts exploding with reverence and love for the great gift we have been given. What more could we ask for and what greater thing could be done for us?
He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:20-21)
It is absolutely a thing of beautiful that our Father has done for us. Honour him with your love and obedience today and let this be our motivation; that our God will be honoured in our living, by the words we speak and the actions we take. When the blessings of the Lord is the reality we live, living a life of holiness becomes an easy matter.
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