Understanding The Value of an Ultimate Value
Take a moment - Take a breath - And think about the last four-plus years.
As you sit and reflect I, with utmost confidence, can say that I, and most certainly you, have experienced a roller coaster ride over the last four-plus years. Regardless of what side of the political aisle you fall on, you have experienced a dramatic devaluation of certain values by some and either the creation of or unearthing of, new values of others. For me, it doesn’t take long to think back to the catalyst of this theatrical plight. Although this might be different for many, it most likely is similar for most. Value, in this context, refers to what is important to someone.
Look at the past
it’s easy to see things have changed
As we strain our heads to look back at the past, it is easy to see how things have changed even potentially why things changed. Whether we like this change or not or believe there has even been a change, there is a logical system of steps that took place to get us to where we are right now - as an individual, a community, and a nation. The question that has arisen throughout this has been “What do I truly value? What does my system of value reside in?
There are a few things that can assist one in this intellectual inquiry - where does one’s initial value stem from? As I write this, I sit, looking out a window upon a vast prairie; mountains resurfacing out of a sea of morning fog that blankets the farm fields freshly covered with organized clippings. I reflect on the numerous sacrifices many have had to endure for the ability of myself, and many like me, to peacefully sit, listen to music, and look out at a beautiful slice of a vast and wonderful free nation.
Is this my ultimate value? Without a doubt, this is something that I value tremendously and without question, I would not choose another place to live - the freedoms we have in the United States are unmatched around the world. However, imagine with me if you will, what happens when that freedom is taken away? Has what I ultimately valued vanished - is it gone - do I have “value” left?
Now, don’t get me wrong I believe you can and should value many things. The question is not: what is the one thing you value? Whether the question is do you have an ultimate value? Should you have an ultimate value? Should we have one thing that is most important to us?
Now, the ‘correct’ answer is “The first and most important thing that I value is my relationship with Jesus Christ”. However, I challenge you to reflect on yourself and question if this is true. If you are able to take that deep dive, resurface, stand in a courtroom, and say that Jesus Christ is your ultimate value - He is of vital importance in my life at all times, you are a better person than I am. The reality, however, is that everyone struggles - everyone has disappointed God.
I just recently finished a bible study of Romans and in the back of my bible, there is a one-sentence summary of each book in the bible:
This Overarching Synopsis
Everyone has offended God - but God has a solution.
Romans: Everyone has offended God - but God has a solution.
So simple, yet exceedingly hard to understand this overarching synopsis of the book of Romans; nevertheless it grasps the importance of our necessary need for a Savior. However, it got me thinking - not only about what I value (what is important to me) but what someone else, someone who doesn’t know me, thinks I value. Are my actions reflecting what I, internally, value, or am I a walking contradiction?
Maybe you have already thought about this in your life, or maybe like myself, you have just been knocked down, face in the dirt tasting this realization.
So, quite simply, the question now is are you walking life as a churchgoer who leaves the church at the door, walking out of the church and into a different life, or are you perfect? This struggle is something that everyone is struggling with. We live in a world where the value of material items, pointless sporting events, and world-changing typically ‘bad’ news that is nowhere near us is front of mind. Although being well-informed is important - are we putting our ultimate value behind these other values? Does reading the news trump daily bible reading? Daily prayer? Daily worship? Daily fellowship?
When asked if God is the center of one's life, many would say “yes”. However, when observed from afar, that answer tends to differ.
Having an ultimate value, valuing your relationship with Christ Jesus is paramount to living in eternity with Him. This value, though difficult to hold on to sometimes, is the answer to our struggles as humans. We need to belong, and, if given the opportunity, the option to belong to Jesus Christ is up to us as an individual; if we accept this life-changing opportunity and value our relationship with Jesus Christ, as required, above everything else in our lives, it is promised that our hearts will be forever changed.
