LIFE

The majority of people think that life is comprised of material things. They speak of the ‘quality of life’, referring to one’s health or possessions. The bumper sticker glibly proclaims: ‘He who dies with the most toys wins’, as if life were merely a game. Life is spent in the ardent pursuit of pleasure or fame - things that will not survive the holy searching flame of God’s judgement. Life does not consist in one’s wealth or reputation; nor is it determined by our desires and ambitions. In reality, life is determined by personal knowledge of God, John 17. 3.

The Lord Jesus is the source of all life - both natural and spiritual, John 1. 4. He created and maintains all living things, John 1. 3; Acts 17. 28; Col. 1. 16-17. In addition, eternal life is entirely dependent on Him. If He had not died as a sacrifice for sin, man’s guilt could never be removed, and God’s righteous standard could only be upheld by the everlasting condemnation of mankind. Instead, through Christ, man can be forgiven, justified, reconciled to God, and made holy. Spiritual life can only be enjoyed by man in accordance with the unsullied light of God, 1 John 1. 2-10.

As well as giving eternal life to man for the enjoyment of the Lord’s presence in heaven, Christ also provides meaning for the here and now. Paul describes the Christian life in this world in these words: ‘I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me’, Gal. 2. 20. By faith, the Life Himself now dwells in the believer, enabling him or her to live a holy life in a decadent world. The Life shows us that we are not here accidentally. Instead, we were created by God and will have our end at the time that He has appointed. What is more, the believer knows the daily comfort of an ongoing relationship with his Creator.

In the ups and downs of ordinary existence, Christians are comforted and sustained by their God. In real time, they discover that Christ came ‘that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly’, John 10. 10.