Once upon a time, there was a little girl who went to church. She did what she was supposed to, learned the basics, but nothing really sank in. She continued on her life, not thinking about or caring what the driving force behind that life was.
As she started to grow, life started getting harder. Trials and tribulations began to rear their ugly heads. So she decided to try all of the things the world offered to offset the emptiness, and to combat the pains of life. If something didn't work, she would try more of what wasn't working. But without fail, the things of this world would let her down. She knew she was empty, but didn't know what to fill herself up with.
In college, she was told there was no God. That it was a silly, out-dated belief. For a time, a part of her even thought this might be true. So she began seeking Him, studying Him, and researching the validity of things like the Bible. She came to the conclusion that He was there, but somehow, this did not affect her lifestyle. She still didn't get it.
So she went on taking everything the world had to offer. Oh, when she would hit some of the lowest points in her life, she would remember God and reach for him. But as soon as things got better, she would turn back to the things of the world.
Eventually, nothing satisfied. So she began to truly seek God's face in earnest. With her heart and soul. Suddenly, all the lights in the house came on. God is faithful like that, He meets those that seek Him. And suddenly, her life changed. It was like she had never seen the world before. Everything took on a different meaning.....she saw God everywhere. In the hurt eyes of the people around her; in the beauty of a sunset; in the miracle of new life. Creation was singing a song all around her, and she finally had ears to hear. So the love affair began.
She hungered for God's word. She began reading His world. She devoured everything she could find written about Him. She began going to meet Him at His house. She began seeking fellowship with His people. She began talking to Him. And as the creator was revealed, her old self died. See, the most important truth that she learned is that she was deserving of death. Eternal death. All the things she'd done in her life, all the sins she'd commited.....all of them were treason against the ruling force in this world: God. But even though she'd commited high treason, God showered her with grace beyond measure. He loved her so much, He didn't want her to die. So He sent His son to die in her place. When that truth slammed into her heart, it broke into a thousand pieces, and He picked them all up, and put them back together. She died, and was reborn. And with this rebirth, the love and gratitude that she felt for her creator overflowed into every aspect of her life. No more was she living to please herself. She was now living to please the one she loved more than life. And as if what had been done for her wasn't already enough....she started receiving immeasurable joy in serving her God. Gift, upon gift, upon gift.
This story even has a happily ever after: she will continue serving Him for as long as he allows her to dwell on the earth, and when her work is finished, she will go home to be with the one she loves, forever.
This is just the reader's digest version of my life. But it explains, as best I can with the meager words at my disposal, why I do what I do.
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart
Amy Edwards
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