I have a life | 1 John 5:12

We've all heard that cliché phrase "I don't have a life" not only do I hear it all the time, but I'm quite guilty of using it. Not only does it signify that you're throwing a pity party for yourself, but it also implies that you're not trying to seek out your purpose in life but would rather stay stagnant mulling over your loss of a life which you are bringing upon yourself. 

This year I have felt like I don't have a life mainly because I have been an awful friend for a multitude of reasons. I've not kept up with a lot of people because my head has been constantly in a school book or novel. My weekends I held sacred for me, myself and I. Worst of all, I held education higher than my relationships with people. Usually, it's the other way around for most, but for me school has always been important as I feel like my grades define me. I have very high expectations and those expectations get me into trouble as I feel they have to be met in order for my life to be the way I want it to be. For these reasons, I distanced myself from people and the other day I sat thinking and I realized that God created us for relationships with people, not relationships with school, books and grades. I had been hiding behind the façade of "the smart one" and justifying my solitary life because of that and at the expense of the friendships I've made. In my justification of myself, I would say I don't have a life as I don't see many friends, but it was my fault I didn't reach out in the first place. 

Yesterday, I was reading my Bible and came across this verse. 

"The one who has the Son has life. The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life." -1 John 5:12

I read it over to myself again in order to fully grasp the meaning. Not only do I have a life in Christ, but I am saved, loved, and redeemed. I don't have to live in fear, live with no purpose, or live for others, but I can live in the knowledge that I am free from sin and will one day go to heaven. This sounds rather elementary but there are times when those simple truths can completely free you from your sins to worship God wholeheartedly.