LEARNING DAILY

 

John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and they may have it more abundantly.”    Jesus

 

Yesterday, I mentioned this verse provided a glimpse into the dynamics behind the scenes of human activity.  On the one hand, there is the thief, Satan, who comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy people’s lives, health, families, and everything good.  On the other hand, Jesus has come to counter and destroy every work of Satan by giving life, redeeming life, in abundance to those who believe and receive Him.  No one can know and experience the abundance, the fullness of life apart from Jesus Christ and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

 

Perhaps you have the same question I had.  Why did Jesus mean by “have life more abundantly”?  The Greek word for abundant is perisson which means “superfluous,” “overflowing,” “over and above a certain quantity,” “a quantity so abundant as to be considerably more than what one would expect or anticipate,” I believe Jesus is promising those who believe in Him and follow Him a life far better than we could ever envision.  1 Corinthians 2:9 puts that thought this way, But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

 

At first glance that sounds like I should have a bigger and newer house, be driving new vehicle every year, taking exotic vacations, and have lots of cash in my pocket.  Does that sound like your life?  It certainly is not what I am experiencing.  I like the saying I once saw, “I’m going to retire and live off my savings.  What I’ll do next the second week I have no idea!”  The question becomes what did Jesus mean then?  Wealth, prestige, power in this world must not have been a high priority on God’s list of blessings.  So, what did Jesus mean by He came that we might have life?

 

John 17:3 gives a pretty clear definition of the life Jesus was talking about – eternal life.  “And this is eternal life that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”  Eternal life does not begin when we die.  The abundance is to know the Father through the Son – it begins when ask Jesus Christ into our hearts.  What this verse does not include is just as important as what it includes.  It does not consist of great financial blessing, houses, cars, or things.  It consists of a relationship with the Creator of all the universe.  It allows us to know God in an ever-growing knowledge and fellowship with Him, with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 

As this relationship exists it depends on a living faith.  It is not just something that is acquired by one act of repentance occurring in the past.  It involves a day to day fellowship with Christ; there is no eternal life without Him!  Eternal life is just not about how long one lives but it is about the quality of life.  It is knowing God as Lord, Father, Protector, Guide, Friend, and the list goes on. 

 

God may bless one with physical blessings.  Things may or may not be by products of God’s way of life.  Neither our wealth nor our property is a definite indication of our standing with God.  3 John 2 says, Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things, and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”   God does want us “to prosper in all things”.  However, verse 4 states, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”  Have you been blessed with material thing?  Use them to further God’s kingdom as He leads you.

 

Life, abundant life, is a process of learning and practicing to be like Christ.  It involves failing, asking for forgiveness, turning away from those things that cause us to sin.  In other words, it is a process of maturing or living the life God desires us to live.  Even though we naturally seem to move toward material things, the abundant life is about “setting our minds on things above” (Colossians 3:2) and “seeking first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

 

Again, a choice is offered.  I have chosen the abundant life through Jesus Christ.  It has been one interesting life!

 

“For this man who needs amazing kind of grace

For forgiveness and a price I couldn’t pay

I’m not perfect so I thank God every day

There was Jesus

There was Jesus!”   Zack Williams

 

Even when I can’t feel it You’re working

You never stop working!    Michael W. Smith

 

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