Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.
     
      I have been asked many times, “What motivates you?” Well, the fact that I died for a short moment in time while having a stroke, and was prayed back to conscious life by my wife, is a major factor in what motivates me. Stepping into eternity for what seemed a long time but apparently was only milliseconds motivates me. Knowing and feeling God’s pure love and presence during that infinite moment motivates me. The Lord’s assignment that He has sown in my heart motivates me.
      Not that I wish any harm upon anyone, but I think it would be a good experience for a lot of people to die for a moment in time and be resuscitated back to life so they can truly see how valuable their lives are. Plus, to clearly see what a gift of God life is. Deut. 30:19 Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! It is hard to understand the depth of life that God has given us. The Lord has literally put His eternity within us so we could be eternal beings. Eccl. 3:11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end.
      You would think that God’s eternal life, which is alive within us, would be enough to motivate people to want to live a full life. But, it is not that way. It seems that we have to choose life and engage with it to find its hidden secrets that keep motivating us forward throughout our time on earth. Prov. 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. We have to be involved in choosing life to have a meaningful purpose for our walk with God. Maybe this is why there are so many young people who are diagnosed as clinically depressed and have stopped reaching for life. They find themselves reaching for their prescriptions to give them relief from the numbness they live with all day long. They have stopped choosing life and are suffering the consequences. What motivates you to want to participate in this new day? It has to be something of eternal value and quality.
      Elijah had to deal with depression and had to overcome the desire to die because of the events in his life. He was being chased by Jezebel’s forces because she had sworn to destroy him. Elijah had a lot on his mind, and the pressure was getting to him. It was manifesting as a depressive death wish. 1Kings 19:4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, travelling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” His defeated self-image was now blocking the truth of what God thought of him.
      Only after Elijah had a genuine encounter with God and spent some quality alone time with the Lord, did Elijah get his motivation back. He was given new instructions that were in line with his calling. Elijah was to pass on the ministry mantle to Elishah. Purpose, motivation, or inspiration has to come from within our hearts as the Lord brings life to our souls and leads us into ministering His will. The reward that Elijah received for recovering from deep depression, was to see the mantle of the Lord passed on to the next generation. We are all here for a short time and we would be wise to make our time count because life truly is short. James 4:14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapour that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away.
      I have been fortunate to have survived a stroke and come back with good health that has allowed me to live life well. I’ve participated in a lot of blessed events since my recovery and have engaged in many projects God lined up for me. From writing blogs and having numerous books published to ministering and reaching people through social media platforms. These events have all been rewarding and encouraging to my spirit. However, the thing that blesses my heart the most for being here today because I responded to God’s motivation, is the privilege to have seen my sons become fathers – and good fathers at that. To have seen them become great dads to their children has blessed my heart with abundant fatherly pride and joy. Prov. 17:6 Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and the pride of children is their fathers.
      What is the reward you might miss out on because you did not respond to the motivation God offered you? What motivates you? Find the answer to this question and live to its fullness. If there is nothing that comes to mind when asking this question, then ask God to reveal your purpose to you, so that you too can choose life and live. Don’t wait until you are almost dead to start looking for life. Just think, if I had not been motivated to choose life. I would have missed out on that glorious moment in my life and my sons’ lives. May we live long and prosper in what God has moved our hearts to do. Amen!