There are a lot of things to live for. Some live for the weekend . . . some live for the thrill . . . some live for the victory. We can live for our children . . . or we can live for our retirement. We can live for health . . . we can live for wealth . . . we can live for stealth (don’t know exactly what that last one means, but it rhymes). Some live for sport . . . some live for the arts . . . some live for academic pursuit. Some live for others . . . others live for themselves. Some live for tradition . . . and some live to be constantly “outside the box.” You get the idea . . . no end to what one can live for.

But, as I’ve been reminded repeatedly over the past several mornings by the Preacher, Solomon, if it’s “under the sun” it’s vanity or, as the NIV renders it, meaningless. That despite how focused we may become on our goals . . . or on pursuing our passions . . . that the reality is that “under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all” (Eccl. 9:11). What a trap . . . to live for that which ultimately has no profit . . . to expend ourselves for that which returns no lasting meaning . . . to spend our lives apart from a context which redeems our pursuits through a higher calling. But this morning, I’ve been reminded that we have been ransomed from futility.

And if you call on Him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.    (1Peter 1:17-19 ESV)

Peter’s audience were living in exile. I guess, for them, they lived to survive. But, even in that most basic of pursuits, Peter called upon his brothers and sisters in Christ to order their lives in light of a Father who judges impartially . . . in light of the God who created them for His glory. Even in being fish out of water . . . even in light of perhaps soon being “fried fish” . . . there was a context for living which transcended their situation. A context which gave a meaning and purpose to their “here and now” which would be fully realized in the “there and then.” A context purchased through the precious blood of Christ. A context beyond the vanity of living under the sun . . . available to those ransomed from futility.

A ransom has been paid that liberates people from the futile . . . a price tendered which releases our identities from that which ultimately has no gain or profit . . . a payment made by the sinless, spotless, risen Son of God that provides people on earth a faith and hope which are founded in the God of heaven.

I’m not saying that, as believers, we shouldn’t look forward to the weekend . . . or enjoy our kids . . . or plan for retirement . . . or give ourselves to the many other interests and desires which God has given man to enjoy under the sun. But when they become the prize . . . and they, like thorns, start to choke out the good seed (Luke 8:7, 14) and distract us from running the good race . . . and avert our hearts from things above . . . and compete for time spent abiding in Christ, and with His Word, and with His people . . . then, we’ve stepped back into the market place of futility from which Jesus ransomed us.

O’ that God’s people might live in the light of God’s purposes. That those “born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God” (1Peter 1:23) might, in all things, ultimately live for Him.

By His grace . . . for His glory . . .