The Mall of Life

We are flooded with a plethora of prospects and alternatives. Almost everything in the world has a multitude of options to pick from. Variety inspires creativity by giving people the freedom to choose from a variety of alternatives. It is, nevertheless, more difficult to choose from many alternatives than from few, especially when the main option is not certain in advance.

Have you ever gone to a shopping mall or other shopping place and been confused? When you don't know what to put in your cart despite the fact that you're there to buy something? It's not that there aren't enough options. Instead, there are an infinite number of choices.

To complicate matters further, the seller brings extra things that have not yet been shown for you to choose from while you remain unsure what to choose from the displayed items. As nice as it is of him to offer you more options, it only adds to your confusion if you are still undecided. Time is ticking away while you consider your options. True, you don't have all day to spend there. When you are still undecided, the vendor will become impatient with you, even though it is a pleasure for him to serve you. It is difficult to assist someone who is undecided. Nobody will spend a whole day on someone who doesn't know exactly what he wants, even if they recommend and present all of the best alternatives. This is the reality.

You are enticed to pick up certain items because of their appealing appearance. At worst, you are pressured to accept some suggested items. You may be unwilling to accept the offer, but to save time, you only need to accept. So, you make a buy. You bring the item home only to discover that the purchase is a terrible; waste of money, and that it is completely different from what you imagined as well as whatever was explained by the vendor.

Does this situation strike a chord with you? Have you ever had a situation like this before? I'm sure you have. This is precisely the case in the “Mall of Life”.

The quandary of not knowing what to buy in the shopping mall usually occurs when you have not made a firm decision on what you need in advance. Again, you could simply have a hazy picture of what you need. A person becomes confused when he is presented with numerous options with identical features.

The real world is likened to a shopping mall, with a variety of shops containing appealing items. Every single store vendor wants to attract your attention to their goods and services. It is essential to understand that, no matter how many and diverse the items are, every good or service fulfills a specific need.

You come in into the world in the same way that you enter the mall with precise expectations. You are here in this world to accomplish something; to fulfill a purpose within a certain amount of time.

What a pity to be in the world and not know what to do! One of the greatest tragedies is uncertainty about one's ultimate purpose in life. As a result, the sooner you figure out why you're on this world, the better.  When you are unclear about the purpose of your existence, seek the help of the One who created you. You didn't come here to live on your own.

God is infinite and all-knowing. The good news is that you will save yourself from frustration, humiliation, and time waste in the world (as in the case of the shopping mall) by asking God why he has placed you here and what he expects of you. (Ephesians 5:15-17 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is…) Finding your genuine source is the first and primary duty for everyone. Knowing where you came from and who you came from will reveal your true identity and what you ought to fulfill.

You will become a victim of the world's tremendous propositions and dictations. People will impose their thoughts and beliefs on you just because you are unaware of why you are genuinely alive. This attempt to coerce you into being someone you are not and doing something you are not supposed to do might be direct or subtle.

Time is flying by as you are pulled around by other people's thoughts and views. You are only here to live for a set amount of years known only to God, who created you. The dilemma of not knowing your genuine mission in life is more catastrophic compared to the experience of being at the shopping mall, as mentioned at the start of this write-up. When you are still unclear about what to buy, you may choose to walk out of the shopping mall to save time.

Choosing to leave the “Mall of Life” out of irritation is not the wisest option. You can only leave by means of death. The easier it is for someone to make this decision, the more regrettable it is. When you choose to leave the shopping mall, no one can question you, and you even have the option of answering with an excuse or not answering at all. Unfortunately, if you decide to leave the “Mall of Life” without the consent of the One who sent you, you will have to answer to Him, after which a final verdict or conviction will be pronounced. Romans 14:12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

It is better not to choose any item (job, life partner, etc.) in the “Mall of Life” without first seeking the will or affirmation of the One who sent you. God loves you, and no matter how appealing the items at “the Mall of Life” appear to be, He knows what is best for you. Don't be swayed by what you see for yourself, and don't be swayed by what others show and tell you. Nobody knows exactly what is best for you better than God. Unless such proposals are guided and inspired by God. Otherwise, they will simply frustrate you and leave you unsatisfied. (Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.)

In the “Mall of Life”, there are countless goodies but not all is best for you. Turn to God for guidance on what to do in order to save time and live completely.