There is a divine longing in every human soul for life at its best. But what does that mean? Who defines what is “best”? Is it our culture? Is it our feelings? Or is it God, who made us?

Let me illustrate with a humorous story. A man once took his goldfish, “Goldie,” with him on vacation. Each day, he basked in the sun, surfed the waves, and enjoyed his rest. But guilt began to creep in; his goldfish was living the same humdrum life in the fishbowl. So one day, he wrapped Goldie in a damp cloth and laid him in the sun beside him. “Now, this is life at its best, Goldie. Live it up,” he said.

You are likely thinking, “There couldn’t be more foolishness than this.” And you’re right because, of course, this was not life at its best for Goldie. It was death. Why? Because the goldfish was never designed to live in the air, basking in the sunshine. No matter how noble the intention, removing a creature from its God-ordained environment is not freeing—it is fatal. Likewise, we can only experience life at its best when we live in accordance with God’s design, which is the overarching message of the apostle John in his first epistle.

Just as he did with his gospel, John begins his letter with the beginning: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life” (1 John 1:1). John is making it clear that there is only one way to begin life at its best. Any other beginning is a false beginning that will lead to tragic ends. The only way to truly live is through Jesus Christ, as John recorded from Jesus’ priestly prayer, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

Life at its best has only one rightful beginning: believing that Jesus Christ alone can save you eternally. Drawing on his first-hand experience, John challenges the first-century church, and us today, to believe the Truth of the Gospel—the Truth that he had seen with his own eyes (see 1 John 1:3). Why? So that we can have fellowship with God and thus experience joy everlasting (see v. 4).

 Prayer: Father, thank You for this message from John, encouraging me to remember I was made for fellowship with You. I know You are the source of eternal life. It is my delight to know You and draw near to You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon Life at Its Best, Part 1: LISTEN NOW

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