Living Fully Alive
Mr. Rogers famously said, “There is only one like you in the whole world. There’s never been anyone exactly like you before, and there will never be again.”
Many of life’s troubles stem from the futile effort to be a better “something” than everyone else – more affluent, successful, and admired. We exhaust ourselves, striving to outdo others, thinking this is the path to fulfillment. But God’s vision for human flourishing differs dramatically. Each of us has a unique identity and purpose in His Kingdom. We reflect His creativity and glory most brightly when we embrace the life He intended for us. God is honored not when we feverishly compete with others but when we thrive as wholly ourselves. Your highest calling is to become fully alive as the only “you” God created.
“The glory of God is man fully alive,” a quote attributed to Irenaeus beautifully encapsulates what it means to be human and live abundantly.
Irenaeus lived in the 2nd century AD and served as Bishop of Lyons. He spent much of his life defending Christian doctrines against the heresies of his day. Irenaeus recognized that a Christian’s purpose is not just right belief but right living that honors God. God is glorified when His people flourish.
So, what does it look like to be fully alive? Firstly, it means cultivating a vibrant, dependent relationship with God. As physical life depends on food and water, spiritual life depends on a constant connection with the Source of life. Jesus said, “I am the Vine, you are the branches. Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5). As we abide in Christ, his life flows through us. Just as a branch detached from the vine withers, so do we shrivel without dependence on God.
Being fully alive also means stewarding the unique talents and resources God grants each of us. The Parable of the Talents illustrates that God has entrusted each person with specific gifts to use for His glory. Burying our talents displeases God, but investing in them expands His Kingdom. We must seek ways to employ our abilities each day, whether through acts of service, creativity, charity, preaching the Gospel, or regular employment.
Additionally, nurturing spiritual disciplines sustains the fullness of life. As food nourishes the body, Bible meditation, prayer, worship, and Christian community nourish the soul. These habits tune our hearts to God’s voice and refresh us inwardly. The psalmist calls worship a feast that satisfies our deepest hunger. Through spiritual disciplines, we stay connected to the power that keeps our hearts and minds alive.
Fully alive people also honor God with their physical bodies. Paul urges, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your reasonable service (true and proper worship)” (Romans 12:1). We worship God not just with our spirits, but our bodies. Our hands can extend kindness, our feet can walk righteous paths, and our mouths can offer praise.
Most importantly, we must surrender all areas of life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. God wants not just a corner of our hearts but its fullness. We reflect His worth most brightly when our whole beings are devoted to His purposes. As C.S. Lewis wrote, “Christ says, ‘Give me all. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You…Hand over the natural self, all the desires that you think are innocent, as well as the ones you think wicked—the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead.’”
Our “new self” becomes fully alive in God’s power and purpose through complete devotion.
Fully Alive in Worship
One place we can practice coming fully alive to God is worship. Worship calls us to be fully present with our whole beings in adoring God. Half-hearted, distracted worship falls short of God’s glory. But when we offer ourselves all to Him in worship, we are most complete, and He is most honored.
Worship reminds us of God’s surpassing worth above all rivals for our affection. God reveals His glory and beauty through songs, sermons, and ordinances. He draws our gaze to behold Him and experience His magnificent love in Christ. As we take in God’s glory, our spiritual eyes are opened to His greatness. We are refreshed by His living water that can satisfy our thirst.
Heartfelt worship also realigns our passions with God’s purposes. In the busyness and stress of life, our moral compass can lose its bearings. Worship peels away the shallow concerns that cling to us until the holy affection of our spirit is set free to adore Christ alone.
Furthermore, authentic worship recognizes God’s worthiness in the full engagement of our bodies. Posture matters when we corporately exalt our King. Standing in praise, kneeling in humility, lifting hands to God – these physical expressions reinforce what our words declare. Our voices, raised in song, proclaim the One we love. As a great preacher once said, “A singing church is a victorious church.” Whole-bodied worship fortifies believers against spiritual atrophy. It stretches our faith and stirs passion for Christ’s mission.
The act of gathering with God’s people also revitalizes our souls. Worship strengthens the bonds of the Christian community. It reminds us we are part of something bigger – a Kingdom that endures forever. Though the world may reject or misunderstand us, here we belong. Our devotion to a common Savior unites us in purpose. We draw courage from brothers and sisters who encourage us onward.
Worship also kindles holy longing. We get glimpses of glory awaiting us eternally through God’s Word and Spirit. Our hope in Christ’s return fortifies endurance. As Lewis wrote, “Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home.” Sunday worship ushers our restless hearts into eternal Sabbath rest with Christ.
So, as we lift hearts, souls, minds, and strength to magnify our gracious God, we become most fully alive. All distractions fall away. Every lesser glory fades. Here in this sacred hour, we are caught together in the most excellent Story, swept into His redeeming work in the world.
More Than Consumers…Eternal Souls
However, the hustle and stress of daily life often overwhelm our worship. Demands constantly flood in to monopolize our time and energy. It’s easy to view ourselves primarily as consumers and producers within an impersonal economic system. We measure our worth by productivity, wealth, achievement, and status. Soon, these temporary pursuits eclipse the eternal life we were created for. We worship the trivial and forfeit our souls.
But as beloved children of God, created in His image, we have eternal worth that consumerism and materialism can never satisfy. There are no ordinary people – only immortal souls destined for an unending future. Our dignity is rooted in bearing His likeness, not worldly success.
As Dorothy Sayers observed, “The Church’s approach to an intelligent carpenter is likely to be at fault if he does not think himself a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven.” She noted it is harder for well-fed people to grasp their spiritual identity than the poor and hungry. When we define ourselves by earthly measures, we shrink the value God bestows on us through Christ. We forget we are more than the sum of our labor and purchases.
Madeleine L’Engle echoed this: “If we commit ourselves to one person for life, this is not, as many people think, a rejection of freedom. Rather, it demands the courage to move into all the risks of freedom and the risk of love which is permanent; into that love which is not possession but participation…It takes a lifetime to learn another person…When love is not possession but participation then it is part of that co-creation which is our human calling.”
Our primary vocation is loving God and participating in His redeeming work – not acquiring things. We reflect God’s glory most fully when we consecrate all aspects of our lives – work, family, resources, relationships, bodies, time – to live for the Kingdom that lasts forever.
The restless impulse within all people can only be satisfied in God Himself. Augustine famously said, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Our souls will remain restless and discontent when we live for anything less than the glory of God. But when we anchor ourselves in Him, we become fully alive.
Called to True Life
The abundant life God intends for us starts now, not just in heaven. As Irenaeus recognized, reflecting God’s glory isn’t just about right theology – it’s right living. Jesus promised He came to give us life to the full (John 10:10). This means joyfully stewarding all we’ve been given to serve God and others. It means resting in God’s love, knowing we are His beloved children. It means complete surrender to the Lordship of Christ so His life and purpose flow through us. It means rooting ourselves in life-giving spiritual practices to nourish endurance.
Everyone longs to be fully known and fully loved – and in God alone, we discover this. He crafted each of us with purpose, gifting us uniquely to play a part in His magnificent story. When we embrace our true identity in Him, we become fully alive and radiant with His glory. We thrive as the works of art He created us to be. No more extraordinary adventure exists than discovering who God has made us to be and allowing His redeeming work to unfold through our lives.
The abundant life begins when we have the courage to follow where God leads – one step at a time. It means releasing our grip on lesser things to grasp the only Treasure that satisfies eternally. True fullness of life is found in the single-minded, joyful pursuit of Christ alone. Nothing else will ever make our souls come truly alive.
So, child of God, you have eternal worth. Your meaning runs deeper than what the world says about you. You were made to know and be known by your Creator, to find your total delight in Him. You have a high calling to participate in His renewal of all things. Through faith in Christ, God offers us the fullness of life now and eternal life to come. May we walk boldly in this holy purpose we have been given. May we proclaim with our whole redeemed lives the greatest Truth: The glory of God is man fully alive.
Put it into Practice
- Take 10 minutes today to silently reflect on how God sees you – as His beloved child with eternal worth. Ask Him to renew your identity.
- Make a list of your talents and abilities. Prayerfully consider one new way to use your gifts this week to serve God and others.
- Have an intentional conversation with a spiritual mentor or friend about what brings your heart alive and how to pursue your unique Kingdom purpose.
- Take a break from consumption – social media, shopping, mindless entertainment. Instead, devote that time to spiritual practices like Bible study, worship music, and prayer walks.
- Consider how you can dedicate your next major decision – job, relationship, finances – more fully to God’s purposes instead of just temporal desires.
Josh Cehulik 