A Futile Way of Life

There are times when life seems pointless, or some endeavor we undertake appears to not be worth doing. Futility is that vain, pointless struggle, literally defined as being pointless, incapable of producing anything useful. Sometimes life feels like that, but for different reasons. Sometimes it is just because it is difficult. We hit a season where life is a struggle, we seem to be moving backward instead of progressing, and things just aren’t working out, yet. But eventually our hard work comes through and we achieve victory. Other times, it is because our efforts themselves are not suitable for what we are trying to accomplish. What we want to do is good, but we are going about it the wrong way. What in our lives is futile?

 

1 Peter 1:18-19 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

 

Peter was writing this to Christians in the outer reaches of Asia and Babylon, ones that had been dispersed by the exile and likely had not returned to Israel. As the apostle to the circumcision, Peter dealt largely with Jews who had converted to Christianity. It is possible that he had ministered to these directly in some missionary journey and was following up with a letter.

 

Since we know the audience was Hebrew, we know that the “futile way of life” referred to the Jewish law, the idea of earning salvation through sacrifice and works. It was futile because it didn’t work. God never meant for us to “earn” our salvation through obedience or rituals. That is why He gave the law, so we could see that we couldn’t do it on our own, to reveal the futility of that way of thinking. They believed that they had to be circumcised to be saved, but Peter proved that was wrong. It is not a matter of what we do physically but the condition of the heart God cares about.

 

John 1:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 7:18-19 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? He is not to be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.

Galatians 5:5-6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

For we, through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

Colossians 2:10-12 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over every ruler and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

 

What matters is the heart, what we believe and what our faith accomplishes in us. Tradition is not bad in itself, but when tradition for the sake of tradition becomes more important than what it represents it is idolatry. That is what happened with circumcision. It became what saved them rather than God. Their traditions and rituals were more important than a relationship with God.

 

Tradition and works are good in their proper order, but pointless as a means of salvation. We have been saved from that futile, pointless way of living and thinking by the blood of Christ. We are righteous because of His sacrifice, not because of what we have done. We can’t earn it, nor should we try. Instead, our goal should be to live for God, do what pleases Him, and leave the rest up to Him, not to earn anything but out of love.

 

Is your way of life or thinking futile? Does life seem pointless? What do you believe? Ask God to reveal what is really important, what you should really be doing and striving for. Ask Him to show you your purpose and what is pointless. Ask Him to help you realign your motives and priorities so that everything is in its proper place.