By our faith we are bound!
by Ian Mascarenhas
My faith is the foundation for everything in my life. Through that journey in faith I have experienced so much in life, because I chose to let in Jesus Christ.
There are some different ways to look at the title of this story. One is that because of our faith we must follow certain rules, bound by God's Commandments. Whatever God has said we must follow is not meant to limit the life experiences we can have. Those Commandments are for our protection and fulfillment in life.
Each part of life has positive and negative aspects to it. The positive view of the Commandments is how does this help other people and me. And from that angle following them brings fulfillment of life.
Fulfillment of life is another perspective of 'we are bound,' which includes life on Earth and eternal life. When we allow Jesus into our lives and follow God's Commandments we will experience life in a new way, seeing how God blesses us so richly.
One of the Beatitudes reads, "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for holiness, they shall have their fill." Our hunger and thirst for holiness makes room in our lives for God to be present.
If my life is so filled with things of this world, where would God fit in? Jesus said, "I stand at the door and knock, and he who opens the door, I will come in and be with him."
I like the prospect of spending my life with Jesus, here on Earth and in eternal life. I have already seen many blessings through my faith journey. They have included family, friends, serving others, sharing Jesus with many, seeing more of Jesus in other people's lives.
Even though sharing the love of Jesus has a powerful effect on so many, there are many more who still get hung up on the negative view of the Commandments; they focus on 'I don't get to do what I want.' And the hurting others goes on and on. A limited vision sees only the effect on myself, but a broader vision sees how others get affected too. Then our actions must be for the benefit of others, a community/family perspective. Someone said, "Loving doesn't start until we're giving and giving."
... we are bound -- with Commandments to follow.
... we are bound -- headed toward an everlasting life with God.
