The Good Life
The Good Life. We all want it. But where do we actually find it?
In the last post, Life, Death And Porn, i mentioned that the subtle lie — tremendously powerful — is that when we sin we won’t die. This is the lure Satan used in the Garden of Eden with Eve. And we all continue to fall for that all these years later.
Along with the lie “You won’t die,” comes the other part of Satan’s offering: an alternate version of what constitutes the Good Life. The Enemy tells Eve that God is holding out on her and says He is trying to restrict her ability to have a good life. In Genesis 3 there is no actual use of the phrase “The Good Life,” but if you understand the context, that’s what Satan is saying.
Gen. 3:4-5
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Your eyes will be opened; you will be like God; you will know good and evil. The inclusion of “you will be like God” is the part that translates to “The Good Life.”
Humanity through the ages has tirelessly chased this idea that we can be like God. Every sin, whatever variety, is a form of us being “like God.” We determine what is and what is not. We decide what we will do and with whom. There is only one ruler, we say, and it is ourselves. We play God. But we do it so very poorly.
Porn is a false promise of The Good Life. But it thrives based on a deeper false belief as to what The Good Life actually is.
The Good Life is a life of meaning and purpose which is blessed by authentic and vibrant relationships in which healthy pleasure is enjoyed without addictions being formed or selfishness ruling our decision making. The Good Life is a life marked by love in various forms — the brotherly, the romantic, the unconditional — and it is a life that is connected to a story which is larger than the self-absorbed fantasy of myself as the center of the universe.
In short, The Good Life is a life connected to God who is both Good and the author of Life, as the values and blessings of His Kingdom expand into — and overflow from — our lives.
The Good Life has nothing to do with how much money i make; what kind of house i live in; or the prestige i have. The Good Life is The Good Life because God is active in it and wherever God is active the greatest adventures are to be found.
Porn can never be The Good Life. It is a terribly small story that offers nothing of value. But as long as we think that The Good Life equals following every sexual fantasy we have, we will miss just how good our lives could be.
Intentional Warriors 
2 Responses to “The Good Life”
Well said. We really do believe that we can be like God – yet we fail to learn from our repetitive, dead end attempts.
Thank you for this!
Your posts have helped me tremendously.. “Porn can never be The Good Life.” and it will never be! I thank God for you.