real life

Starting a blog!  Figure it’d be best to define what its entries will be about.

“…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – Jn. 10:10b (TNIV)

What did Jesus mean by “life” and “have it [life] to the full”? Rarely can a (half a) verse in all of Scripture be more pregnant with meaning:

“life”

The purpose of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is that His people may have life.  Yes, this sounds vague and figurative, but it’s really not.  It’s real and matter-of-fact.  Jesus gave us life by rescuing us from death.  We would’ve died and that would’ve been it.  Game over.

But if we accept our Heavenly Father’s offer of salvation through the finished work of Jesus by the power of His Spirit, we get life.  That is, eternal life.

Because Jesus fulfilled His life purpose, we know that men will eventually die and still live when it really matters.  (Funny thought, if Jesus couldn’t have truthfully said “It is finished” (Gk. tetelestai) before breathing His last (Jn. 19:30), it’d tragically be “I am finished” for all of us at our final breaths.  Whew.  Thanks, Lord.)

In addition to eternal life, a life of peace is even made available to us as we finish out our days here on Earth (Jn. 16:33).

Sound good enough?  Sure.  But would you believe it, there’s even more.  How much more is overwhelming.

 

“have it [life] to the full” 

Though salvation is an unbelievable, amazing gift (the gift of God, in fact – Eph. 2:8), we are not meant to settle for “just” salvation, simply because God has so much more in store for us.  If only we’d just want it.  He wants us to want more.   He wants each of us to have a regenerated life, a victorious life right here on Earth.

And how exactly do we do this?  By living a life of purpose.  A “God life” – the kind of life that He intended for us to have.  The kind that’d give Him more of the glory that He alone deserves.

Meaning?  Getting involved in the cause that Jesus started: the cause of redemption [of man].  We have to become others-focused, loving and serving people, just as Jesus modeled.

Desperate not to be “left on the side”, we need to ask God, “What would You have me do?”  “I know that my purpose is to bring glory to You, …to make You more famous.  But how would You have me do that?  Help me find my unique purpose in Your kingdom.”  Everyone needs to get up each day with something to do – some duty, task, calling, some purpose in life – a reason to be in the kingdom setting.

Whatever that turns out be, it’ll invariably mean doing everything in this Earthly life for the glory of His name and His renown (1 Cor. 10:31, Col. 3:17, Isa. 26:8).  This will translate into honoring God in our relationships, work, finances, and ministry (i.e. church involvement).

Only in bringing glory to God can a life of real fulfillment on Earth result, with eternal rewards accorded us to boot (i.e. Mt. 25:21; crowns – 2 Tim. 4:8, Jas. 1:12, 1 Pe. 5:4).

 

Having said these, a paraphrase of Jesus’ words could make things clearer:

“…I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” – Jn. 10:10b (The Message)

“Real life” (fulfilling, satisfying) on Earth as originally intended for us by God, and “eternal life” with Him at the consummation of His kingdom.  Both of which are “more and better than we are capable to dream of.”

One or both?  No-brainer as it may seem, it’s really up to us.

The entries that will follow will be my attempts to show how a FULL life is to be had, examining different arenas of life.

 

(All Scripture references on this site will be taken from the TNIV (Today’s New International Version), unless otherwise noted.)

Advertisement