I looked in over a dozen different versions of the Bible (in English) to find the word “reality”. I was surprised that the word usually did not exist in most versions and when it did, it was used once or twice in the entire book. Why did I look for “reality”? Well, there’s a verse I always liked that is found in Colossians 2:17 that says: “These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” (NIV) I particularly like the second part of it “reality, however, is found in Christ”. This is not a verse to back up my thoughts about reality, because of the context, but still I believe that THE reality is found in Christ.

I’ve been learning about reality this past week. Some of you might know how I get down and frustrated when I what I do isn’t fulfilling. You see, right now, people might look at my life and routine and say, “Gabrielle’s reality is simple: she works” and when I start university again in September, people might look at my life and say, “Gabrielle’s reality is this: she is a student”. And that’s the way I feel too. Well, that’s the way I FELT. I thought that that was it: my work runs my life, and in the fall, school will. Why? Because I spend so much time at work! Because I build my schedule around my work, not the other way around for the most part. So it feels as if, my reality, right now, is work.

The thing though is that this is no truth. The time that I spend somewhere, the responsibilities that are laid on my shoulders, the titles that are given me or whatever seems to consume my life are small characteristics of my life, but my “real” reality is clearly way above all these things.

My reality is this: I am God’s child. My greatest ambition in life is to glorify Him and to help people know Him so that they can worship Him as the only true God. And this, everyday of my life. That’s my reality. It’s more real and more important than anything else, that’s why I live. I don’t work solely because I need money, I work because I want to share the Gospel there, that’s my motivation. I go to school because I believe that God calls me there and that He wants to use me bring His Good News there and later on when I get my bachelors. It’s all about God being glorified and loved and worshiped.

The purpose of evangelization is not merely to call people to come to peace with God so they go to heaven instead of hell (although this is one of the good things that the Gospel brings to those who believe). But the purpose of spreading the Good News is to bring more people to bow down in adoration before the throne of God, it’s to bring more glory to our Redeemer. It’s to savor and treasure the only Worthy One. And I believe that that’s the reality of all who come to know Christ Jesus as their Savior.

It’s easy to get into the routine and be blinded by the so-called “realities” of our lives; work, school, family, friends, etc. But, oh! How liberating it is to realize that our reality is found in Christ and that we are above our little realities, that God wants to use us for greater purposes, that He’s put us into certain circumstances and places so we’d shine His glory, lift up His standards and help people know Him and become true worshipers of God.