A HUMAN COMEDY

            All the World's a stage

            And all the men and women merely players;

            They have their exits and their entrances;

            His acts being seven ages.  At first the infant

            Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms ...

            Last scene of all,   

            That ends this strange eventful history,

            Is second childishness and mere oblivion

            Sons teeth, sons eyes, sons taste, sons everything.

            (As You Like It, 2, vii)

If everyone's life is like a play, as expressed by William Shakespeare, would you be in a comedy or a tragedy in your own life drama?  We all are familiar with the tragic plays such as "Romeo and Juliet" where, despite the final union of the two feuding families, the ending was still pathetic.  Had the play not concluded in their deaths, this would have been a comedy.  Comedy is not just associated with humor, but refers to any such a conventional ending as: and they lived happily ever after." As the Bible indicates, "Better is the end of a thing than its beginning" (Ecc 7:8), an overall evaluation of a person's worth can only be determined when he has passed away.  Can we afford to have our life posthumously reviewed as not only a failure, but indeed a terrible tragedy?  We must understand that a "comedy" in human life has nothing to do with whether one once possessed physical beauty, material wealth, or intelligence.  The happy ending does stem from whether or not he has found the source of life and salvation:

All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (Jn 1:3-4)

If one can lead a life honoring God and loving humanity, his short life would conclude happily in eternal blessed rest.  Life is a stage.  And we, as actors on this stage, must have a full understanding of the plot and the role in which we are involved.  Without first studying the provided script, even the most experienced actors are unable to assume spontaneously the role assigned to them.  After studying and memorizing a given script, the actor can then give his best performance.  Unfortunately, we are "live" actors who have only one chance to the "performance of our life." Where, then, can we find the written plot for this one and only chance on the stage of life?  We as 'actors can find this in the Living Bible, the script provided to us by God or the producer.  The Holy Scripture instructs us in the wisdom of salvation and is good for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in the righteousness of God (2 Tim 3:15-17).  The approach to the gateway of salvation is in the "living script" in which some of the representative lines are worthy of study: Romans 15:4, John 14:6, Acts 2:38, and Titus 3:5, among others.

A willing actor and a well-written script are not enough.  It still requires a director to help the actor transform accurately the printed script to life.  Although he does not appear on stage himself, the director of an excellent play can be seen and felt in every movement and action of all the performers.  People often blame the declining quality of a television program on the replacement of a certain director.  There are also many people who choose to view certain movies because of their directors and not because of their actors.  It is difficult to deny that a director is of vital importance to the success of any performance.

Regarding our living performances, Jesus said, "When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth" (Jn 16:13).  To understand the intended spiritual depth of this heavenly scripture (Is 29:11-12), one must pray for the Spirit of truth to direct him on the stage of life.  With the guidance of the director, the Holy Spirit, one will thus be able to become a successful actor and the play will achieve its excellence.

A human comedy will undoubtedly be spoiled by the intrusion of death.  The Bible, however, states, "for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live" (Rom 8:13-14).  For this reason, to ensure a happy ending to his drama, we must invite our director to be with us all the time.  Friends, "did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" (Acts 19:2, 2:1-4, 10:44-49, 1 Cor 14:2, 4; Jude 20).

There are indeed many required criteria for an actor to consider.  Provided with a script and a director, the fact still remains that the quality of the performance depends heavily on his own acting.  As soon as the Jews heard the gospel of the kingdom proclaimed by Jesus' disciples, they asked, "Brethren, what shall we do?" Peter answered, "Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins- and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:37-39).  Peter has demonstrated the way to salvation: Repent of the wicked ways of life and of. erroneous beliefs; accept the Lord Jesus, and be baptized in His blood (Eph 1:7, 1 Jn 5:6-8).  The apostle Paul further confirmed this message of salvation when he said: "In Jesus you who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory" (Eph 1:13-14).

If you have determined to make your life a comedy, you must then start with your belief in the Lord, be reborn from water baptism and the Holy Spirit (Jn 3:5), and finally consummate through your sanctification and fidelity to the commandments of God (2 Thes 2:13, Mat 7:21-23).  By truly understanding the word of God and acting in accordance to the direction of the Holy Spirit, you will be able to fulfill the will of the Heavenly Father, who will confer upon you the recognition and awards you deserve for your performance.

Life and death, day and night are common phenomena observable in nature.  But no one can possibly escape death.  We must all face the final judgement (Heb. 9:27).  We must ask ourselves: After death subdues us, where is our eternal home?  Will we be awarded for our performance?  Be aware that the God of justice will judge every one according to his deeds (Rom 2:6-11).  Will the ending of your own life drama be "entering the kingdom of God for enjoyment of eternal life" or ,,eternal condemnation" and "exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might?" (2 Thes 1:9).  The choice, of course, is ours while we are still alive today.

For everything there is a season and time for every matter under heaven.  A time to be born, and a time to die. (Ecc 3:1, 2)

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. 2Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hast formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 3Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.  4For a thousandyears in thy sight are but as yesterday when it ispast, and as a watch in the night. 5Thou carriest them away as with aflood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth Up. 6In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. 7For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.  8Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. 9For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.  10The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.  11Who knoweth the power of thine anger? Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. 12So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. 13Return, O Lord how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. 14O Satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. 16Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.  17And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. (Psalm 90)