restoration of the relationship with God that was lost with Adam and Eve's fall into sin. That relationship with God is only possible through His Son, esus !hrist "Acts 4:12; John 1:12; 14:6#. Eternal life is gained when we repent of our sin "no longer want to $ontinue in it# and !hrist $hanges us, ma%ing of us new $reations, and we rely on esus !hrist as Savior. Real meaning in life is not found only in a$$epting esus as Savior, as wonderful as that is. Rather, real meaning in life is when one begins to follow !hrist as His dis$iple, learning of Him, spending time with Him in His &ord, $ommuning with Him in prayer, and in wal%ing with Him in obedien$e to His $ommands. 'f you are not a !hristian "or perhaps a new believer#, you might be saying to yourself, (That does not sound very e)$iting or fulfilling to me*+ ,ut esus made the following statementsCome to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will gi e you rest! "a#e my yo#e u$on you and learn %rom me, %or I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will %ind rest %or your souls! &or my yo#e is easy and my burden is light' ()atthew 11:2*+ ,-.! (' have $ome that they may have life, and have it to the full+ "John 1-:1-b#. ('f anyone would $ome after me, he must deny himself and ta%e up his $ross and follow me. .or whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it+ ")atthew 16:24+2/#. (/elight yourself in the 01R/ and he will give you the desires of your heart+ "0salm ,1:4#. &hat all of these verses are saying is that we have a $hoi$e. &e $an $ontinue to see% to guide our own lives, whi$h results in emptiness, or we $an $hoose to pursue God and His will for our lives with a whole heart, whi$h will result in living life to the full, having the desires of our hearts met, and finding $ontentment and satisfa$tion. This is so be$ause our !reator loves us and desires the best for us "not ne$essarily the easiest life, but the most fulfilling#. The !hristian life $an be $ompared to the $hoi$e of whether to pur$hase the e)pensive seats at a sporting event that are $lose to the a$tion, or pay less and wat$h the game from a distan$e. &at$hing God wor% (from the front row+ is what we should $hoose but, sadly, is not what most people $hoose. &at$hing God wor% firsthand is for whole2hearted dis$iples of !hrist who have truly stopped pursuing their own desires to pursue instead God's purposes. They have paid the pri$e "$omplete surrender to !hrist and His will#3 they are e)perien$ing life to its fullest3 and they $an fa$e themselves, their fellow man, and their 4a%er with no regrets. Have you paid the pri$e5 Are you willing to5 'f so, you will not hunger after meaning or purpose again. 67898:767