From birth to death life involves challenges. Some are minor, requiring little thought and effort to overcome. Others seem insurmountable! Like a tsunami they quickly sweep over us, paralyzing our minds and depleting our energy.
We choose some challenges like education and marriage, purposely engaging our wills and energetically harnessing our resources. And, with patient determination we succeed. Other tests … like illness and unemployment … we don’t choose. They intrude without permission. Catching us off-guard, these unexpected encounters drain our energy and confidence, often producing feelings of helplessness.
Because life challenges are unavoidable, it’s wise to ask: “How can I courageously confront and effectively master them?” Fortunately, the answer is rather easy to discover, understand and implement.
Consider a positive challenge like education. To write, a pupil must first memorize 26 letters. With these essentials she can form words, sentences and paragraphs. Similarly, mathematics starts with 10 numbers. With these fundamentals the student can perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Educational success begins with the mastery of basics!
Consider a negative challenge like war. An enlistee begins his term of duty not on the battlefield but at boot camp. The beloved drill sergeant imparts fundamentals of combat through significant degrees of physical and mental stress. Though often despised by trainees, basic training forms the foundation for military success!
So, it’s just common sense! To experience fulfillment in the adventure of living one must learn and practice the Basics of Life! About these Jesus claimed to be the inside scoop: “I am the way to the truth about life!”
Furthermore, He promised satisfaction, fulfillment, and happiness to those who mastered the Basics. For example, in His most famous teaching—the Sermon on the Mount—He said: “How satisfied you’ll be when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right.”
Our plan is to examine the fundamentals Jesus taught and demonstrated. You’re invited to explore our findings. All that’s required is an adventurous heart, hungry for satisfaction in living. Are you up to the challenge?
There is a music group called 4Him which has a song called The Basics of Life. The chorus says it well—
We need to get back
To the basics of life
A heart that is pure
And a love that is blind
A faith that is fervently
Grounded in Christ
The hope that endures for all times
These are the basics,
We need to get back
To the basics of life