Have you heard the story about the man who really loved his Cadillac? He died and was buried sitting up in his car, according to his wishes. As his dead body was lowered into the large grave, a friend standing nearby remarked, “That is really living!”

 Sometimes people have a warped view of what the good life is all about. Satan deceives us into believing that the good life is about what we possess of this world’s pride and treasures. Many spend their lives in the quest for the toy that will satisfy the inner longing for happiness. Stuff that we possess for a short time in this life has no power to provide the good life. We soon tire of our toys, or lose our ability to find joy in them. Human pride leads to destruction.  

Those who want the good life will find it in Jesus Christ. When we get beyond Satan’s illusions, his smoke screens of temporary enjoyments, we find that what is of real value endures eternally. And we find that it comes from giving rather than receiving.

Moses was raised as the son of the King of Egypt. He chose to give up his royal position and wealth to identify with God’s people, who were Moses’ people. He chose to suffer with his own people, rather than enjoy the pleasures of this world for a short time. He gave up being buried in an Egyptian burial chamber, perhaps a tomb in a pyramid. But he led God’s people out of slavery, and was buried by God in the mountains east of Jordan. Moses lived the high life, in spite of some mistakes. He has an exalted place in the history of the world.  

The Word of God left heaven to be born as the man Jesus. Being the Son of God and the promised king of Israel, He did not exalt himself. He humbled himself to the point of dying on the cross, a horrible death accompanied by insults and terrible pain. But He was exalted and became ruler of heaven and earth. He is living the high life, and offers to share it with all who desire it.  

Paul, writing to the Christians at Ephesus, said this: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph 2:4-10, NIV)  

Christians can live the high life when we are willing to give up our own selfish desires relating to this world and pleasing ourselves with temporary things. We can live the good life in Jesus Christ, receiving all spiritual blessings in Him, not according to what we deserve, but by what He has done for us. We receive these blessings by an obedient faith.  

Are you seated in heavenly realms in Christ Jesus? We must give up pleasing ourselves with temporary pleasures in order to enjoy the good life!