There are times when I wish I could have a dog’s life.  What an easy life they have! They can do pretty much whatever they want, while we kill ourselves working and dealing with the stress of life, they sleep.  When we have to cook and clean and be responsible, they can run and play.  It doesn’t bother a dog that people take care of him; the dog seems to think that’s just how things ought to be.  When they do something dumb, nobody ever taught them to be ashamed, they just keep on doing whatever they like, and then they take a nice nap.  Yep, seems like a pretty good job to me, being a dog.

When God first created humans, they lived an unashamed and uncomplicated life as well.  They had a job to do tending the garden and ruling over the creation, but there was only one rule they needed to follow; leave that certain tree alone.  Compared to all of the nonsense we deal with now, that seems like another pretty good job to me; being Adam. But alas, it’s not to be.

I wonder sometimes how complicated our lives really need to be.  Sometimes I think that my life is rather too complicated because of choices I’ve made, rather than just things forced upon me.  Do we really need to be living such complicated lives?

Since we were redeemed by the blood of Jesus, we have a relationship with God much like in the beginning.  They had a purpose in tending that garden and having dominion over the earth; we have a job in making disciples.  They were to keep away from that tree, we are to keep away from doing evil.  They had fellowship with God; we have fellowship with God.  They had purpose; we have purpose.

What’s really so different?

Maybe, in its very essence, this life isn’t really as complicated as it might seem, if we keep our focus on God and His purpose, instead of on all of the distractions of  this world.  Well, if nothing else, it’s worth thinking about!