Where Else Can We Go?

“You only had one TV channel when you were a kid?” my sister and I asked my dad in disbelief. 

“Yeah,” he answered. “Your mom was a rich kid. She had two channels.” 

One channel of TV. Can you imagine? It still blows my mind. Now, we don’t even have channels. Instead, we choose from a smorgasbord of streaming services, each of which offers thousands of shows and movies to watch from the beginning any time we want, often without commercial interruption. We’re so used to choices that we can hardly conceive of not having any options at all. For the most part, these choices are a good thing. However, because we’re so conditioned to the luxury of choice, we may wrongly assume that this luxury extends to every area of our lives. 

One area in which we would like to choose from a buffet of options is where to go to find life. For this reason, endless false religions promise eternal life and happiness and prosperity to those who are willing to jump through the right hoops. But it’s not just false religions. In seasons of discouragement, weariness, or stress, we believers tend to gravitate back to the buffet line, assuming that life and strength might be found in any number of choices. Here are a few potential life-givers we might consider.

Vacation 

I’m writing this during prime vacation season, when many people are either looking forward to or recovering from a blissful time away from home, seeing the sights and enjoying family time. Whatever your destination this summer, whether Yellowstone, Paris, or Grandma’s house, you’re probably looking forward to a getaway of some sort. Since God commanded His people to rest regularly, we know that He is not opposed to rest; in fact, it’s necessary. We periodically need to disconnect from the stress of real life to be reenergized by some time away. However, it would be a mistake to give vacation too much power. Retreats and getaways cannot give life.They may reenergize us for the battle, but they are merely a means to an end, not an end in themselves. Enjoy your break, but don’t mistake it for an option of where you can find true life. It will disappoint every time. 

Me-Time

Golf, manicures, woodworking, reading, gardening, exercising—we all have activities that allow us to relax and get our minds off the problems of the day. And, most of the time, we do these activities solo because we just need a little time to ourselves. As with vacations, these hobbies are typically good things, but they too can go awry if we try to use them as means of life. When I start to believe that my downtime with a cup of coffee and a novel in the afternoon will somehow give me life so that I can make it to the end of the day, I’ve bought the lie that I can look for life among a variety of options. If you think that your time on the lake with a rod and reel or your day at the spa being treated like a duchess will somehow infuse you with life, you’ve followed the crowd, not the Savior. 

My Screen 

Sometimes we try to escape reality through our hobbies; other times, we try to escape through the screen. Whether it’s binge-watching news, scrolling the night away on social media, or letting auto-play take you from episode to episode of your favorite series, we’re all guilty of looking for life in a source that does more to drain us than fill us. We’ve allowed the enemy to deceive us into thinking that somehow our devices can give us what our hearts are desperately searching for. Yet, like vacations, and hobbies, screens simply are not a viable option. 

My Own Efforts 

Finally, if you’re feeling drained of life, burned out, and like your candle is nothing more than a puddle of melted wax, maybe you don’t turn to a hobby, screen, or retreat. Instead, you grit your teeth, dig in your heels, and cowboy up. You know things aren’t going to get better unless you make them better. So, you think positively, go for a run, meditate a little each morning, and put mind over matter to push through. Yet, like other pseudo-options, the self-help choice comes up empty. 

Where Else Can We Go? 

When Jesus asked His disciples if they were going to follow the crowd of deserters, Peter gave the only answer he could: 

“Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)

Peter reminds us that we don’t have a menu of options to select from. Life is found in just one source: the very Word of God. Unlike our dream vacation, favorite “me-time” activities, indulgent escapism, or herculean efforts at self-improvement, the Word of God does not disappoint. Like rain on fertile ground, it will yield results. We need not shop around for other options. None exist. 

Remember . . . 

The Word Revives

My soul cleaves to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word. (Psalm 119:25 NASB95)

Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word. (Psalm 119:154 NASB95)

The Word Strengthens

I am weary from grief;
strengthen me through your word. (Psalm 119:28)

The Word Restores

The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (Psalm 19:7 NASB95)

The Word Enlightens

The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. (Psalm 19:8 NASB95)

I have more insight than all my teachers because your decrees are my meditation. (Psalm 119:99)

Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105)

The Word Equips

All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16–17)

The Word IS Life

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . In him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:1, 4)

We like having options because they lull us into thinking that we’re not missing out, but we don’t have to wonder if something better is out there. With God’s Word, there is no wondering. We’re not limited. We simply cannot—and will not—find life and true joy anywhere else. So may we cling to the Word as we muse with Peter, “Where else can we go?”