Is it Right?

The game of life has often been said to be a test. I’ve never really figured out why. Nevertheless, if it’s a test then there are probably exams with right answers and wrong answers. Perhaps, as with some college courses, there is only One Big Final Exam. Pass. Fail. Graded. Ugh! Or perhaps there are ongoing tests and quizzes. That approach seems fair.

If that is so, then we are simply answering questions during our life. The success or failure of our life, then, is the outcome of all the tests. Or perhaps the tests and quizzes don’t count, but give us a sense of our progress. That might be worse. Then we’d have to take that One Big Final Exam to determine the course of our Eternal Life beyond this mortal life.

We are constantly having to make choices throughout our life. Each choice is like a test. And these are like multiple choice tests. I’ve “failed,” according to some friends in that I’ve tried to analyze, over think, things. I’ve spent a lot of time looking for the “Right Answer.” In doing so, in effect, I’ve selected the imaginary “No Answer is Correct.” I know for sure I’ve hesitated too long in the process of finding answers that are “Right.”

One strategy in answering these multiple-guess tests is to determine which of the answers are simply wrong, obviously wrong, and scratch them off. I’m wondering if this might be an approach to life, too. Rather than try to constantly assess which choice, which decision, is “right,” scratch off the obviously wrong choices. Then simply choose the best answer and go for it. Okay. I suppose that’s the Existentialist Approach to life.

I suppose one might find fault with this way of thinking.

Apostle Paul wrote to the Galations (5:16 ESV):

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

When Apostle Paul wrote that, he said it in the context of our Freedom in Messiah YeshuaJesus. He proceeded that statement with (v. 13,14):

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “

Follow the way of Love. Follow Jesus. Follow the Spirit of G-D. This keeps us from making wrong choices. And we have the freedom to simply live our lives without the anxiety of always wondering if we are doing right. Isn’t this an approach to living an abundant life?

What do you think?