05/09/2024
Abundant Life is in the Heart
We all want to live a full life. Ano ang halaga ng mahabang buhay kung hindi naman ito makabuluhan?
The Bible tells us that Jesus came to give us this full life. In John 10:10 Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Here, Jesus is presenting an analogy about his ministry using a familiar topic to his listeners--that is shepherding. Now he makes a contrast between the good shepherd and the bad shepherd. The bad shepherd is likened to a thief and a robber. He is referring to the hypocritical religious leaders who claim to be spiritual but wreak havoc to their flock for their own selfish gain for the sake of their pride and greed. This is in contrast to who Jesus is. In the succeeding verse Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.” Jesus Christ laid down His life on the cross to give us this kind of life.
Unlike a thief, the Lord Jesus did not come for selfish reasons. He came to give, not to get. He came that people may have life in Him. This life He offers is meaningful, purposeful, joyful, peaceful and an abundant life.
What does this abundant life look like? Before you think of lavish homes, expensive cars, worldwide cruises and more money, you need to pause and think about what Jesus teaches regarding this abundant life. This "abundant" life is something more meaningful than material wealth and prosperity (Matthew 6:25–32; Colossians 3:2–4). It begins with salvation from an eternity of suffering the penalty of sin (Romans 6:23). An abundant life is, primarily, eternal life (John 17:3). The abundant life means gaining a heavenly perspective (Romans 12:2), leading to a growing trust and knowledge of God (2 Peter 3:18). It means blossoming into a life full of the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). While false teachers and false religions offer shallow, temporary relief, only Jesus brings true everlasting life and spiritual abundance (John 14:6).
Abundant life is eternal life, a life that begins the moment we come to Christ and receive Him as Savior, and goes on throughout all eternity. The biblical definition of life — specifically eternal life — is provided by Jesus Himself: “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3). This definition makes no mention of length of days, health, prosperity, family, or occupation. As a matter of fact, the only thing it does mention is knowledge of God, which is the key to a truly abundant life.
Second, abundant life is new life in Christ. This new life is the best life, becoming a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17 says “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” This new life in Christ is having a renewed mind, a new heart, a beautiful, peaceful life in the midst of difficulties; a wonderful, happy life even in the midst of trials, problems & challenges; a satisfied life having new values, new perspective & new direction. This is what Jesus meant by having life to the full. No matter how wealthy you are if you do not have new life in Christ, you will not enjoy life to the fullest. Many people have so much in life but they always struggle to have more. Famous people struggle to maintain their fame. Those who are in authority want more power. But abundant life is not about money, fame or power. Abundant life can be experienced even in the midst of crisis. This is why Apostle Paul said in Phil 4:11-13 "I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." Paul is living life to the full, enjoying this new life in Christ –a satisfied, contented life. Whether in plenty or in want, He has learned to be content because abundant life is in the heart. It is not quantified based on your land titles, mansions, bank account, luxury cars, or any material possession. It is having satisfaction in knowing Christ & growing in our relationship with Him. This results to a life of thanksgiving, whether in sickness or in health, in poverty or in wealth, in the highs & lows of life you can still say "Praise the Lord!" because in Christ you have everything you need. The moment you receive Christ in your heart, you become a child of God right away (John 1:12); you are justified right away which means you’re forgiven, declared righteous & set apart for God (Romans 5:1). In your union with Christ, what happened to Christ, happened to you. This means in Christ, you have everything! This is the reason why even in shipwreck, famine, trouble, hardships, persecutions, nakedness or danger, Apostle Paul can praise the Lord for he knows that none of these things can separate us from the love of God. Moreover, Paul understood that our inheritance in Christ includes blessing & suffering (Romans 8:15-17).
Finally, this full life revolves around “growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” says 2 Peter 3:18. This teaches us that the abundant life is a continual process of learning, practicing, and maturing, as well as failing, recovering, adjusting, enduring, and overcoming. One day we will see God face to face, and we will know Him completely as we will be known completely (1 Corinthians 13:12). This will be the ultimately fulfilled abundant life in the presence of God forever.
Although we are naturally desirous of material things, if we allow Christ to reign in our heart, our perspective in life will be revolutionized (Romans 12:2). As you become a new creation in Christ, your understanding of “abundance” will be transformed. You will learn that true abundant life consists of an abundance of love, joy, peace, and the rest of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), not an abundance of “stuff.” It consists of a new life that is eternal, and your interest shifts towards the eternal, not the temporal. As Paul reminds us, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:2-3).
