Life
John 10:10 (NASB)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
An abundant life — that’s what we all want. Why does it seem so elusive? Jesus said that He came so that we could “have life, and have it abundantly.” So, why don’t we always feel that “abundant life?”
The Thief
In the scripture above (John 10:10), Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” The thief here ultimately refers to Satan. Satan was an angel who became so prideful that he actually challenged God.
Isaiah 14:12-14 (NASB)
12 “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations!
13 “But you said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north.
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.
We might think that was pretty dumb. How could any created person or thing be powerful enough to overthrow God? That is a perfect example of how pride can blind us to even the most obvious things. No one, no matter how powerful or intelligent they are, can even come close to approaching the infinite power and intelligence of God.
Since God judged him, Satan now hates God. Because we were created in the image of God, Satan hates us, too. He wants to do everything he can to destroy us. If he can’t destroy us, he will try to make us miserable.
Other People
Many people think that having a lot of things will make them happy. Some people are even willing to take things from other people, because that seems easier to them.
Proverbs 1:18-19 (NASB)
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors.
Stealing actually destroys the life of the thief. They think they are getting ahead; they think they are creating an abundant life, but they aren’t. They are ruining their own lives, even if they have many things.
Ourselves
Luke 12:15 (NASB)
Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”
We spend our lives going to school, work, or other places. We work jobs, so we can make money. Then, we spend the money to buy things. Do we own our possessions, or do they own us? If we are living to simply get more things, thinking that will make us happy, we are in for a rude awakening. Jesus said that even if you have a lot of things, they won’t bring you real life — something worth living for.
Building
Psalm 127 (NASB)
1 <A Song of Ascents, of Solomon.>
Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early,
To retire late,
To eat the bread of painful labors;
For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.
3 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
5 How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed
When they speak with their enemies in the gate.
Solomon was king of Israel, King David’s son. He was the richest and wisest person in the world. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines (wives, but without the rights that full wives had). He had an army that could conquer any other army in the world. He used this to expand his kingdom more than anyone before him.
Even with everything that he had in this life, he recognized that without God, none of it mattered. “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” (Psalm 127:1) Building a life, or things in a life, without God is useless. Even if you have short-term success, it won’t last.
The Curse
Adam and Eve had it made in the Garden of Eden. Unfortunately, they gave in to temptation. Because of that, God cursed us work much harder in order to survive.
Genesis 3:17-19 (NASB)
17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat from it;
Cursed is the ground because of you;
In toil you will eat of it
All the days of your life.
18 “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;
And you will eat the plants of the field;
19 By the sweat of your face
You will eat bread,
Till you return to the ground,
Because from it you were taken;
For you are dust,
And to dust you shall return.”
We know all too well that it takes hard work in order to “get ahead.” At the same time, we see in Psalm 127 (above) how God tells us that building anything on our own is not the way to go. He also tells us that children are blessings from God. We should enjoy our families and friends. People are eternal souls. As such, the people that we influence in a godly way are all that we can bring into heaven with us. Nothing else in this life is eternal.
The Curse
1 Corinthians 15:19-22 (NASB)
19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.
21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
The Apostle Paul was another man who had a lot going for him when he was young. Then, he met Jesus, and he found a much better life. Even though he was put in prison, beaten, mocked, and probably lost his inheritance and family, he considered that it was worth it. Living for Jesus and telling others about this new life was far greater than anything this world had to offer.
In verse 22 above, Paul references how Jesus saved us from the curse of Adam. Jesus paid the price and took our punishment on Himself. Yes, we still have to work, but we don’t have to live this life on our own, in our own strength.
Peace
John 14:26-27 (NASB)
26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
With all of the horrible things going on in the world, it’s almost impossible to have peace. Jesus said that He left us with peace. If we give Him all of our worries and cares, we can live in His peace.
1 Peter 5:6-7 (NASB)
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,
7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
The Bible tells us to give all of our anxiety to Jesus. What we consider major problems in our lives, is nothing for Him; He can handle them. He simply wants us to trust Him. We need to do our part, but after that, trust Him with the outcome.
Abundant Life
How can we live an abundant life? By living it in Jesus, with the help of the Holy Spirit — our Helper and Comforter.
John 14:16-18 (NASB)
16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
This is the secret of life — living it with Jesus. Without Jesus, there is no real life. With Jesus, everything around us makes sense. What was a hard life becomes just what Jesus promised: an abundant life.
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