The Abundant Life

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10

The pursuit of abundance leads to confusion if abundance is limited to material goods.

In a desire to live comfortably, free from illness, inconvenience, or stress, mankind misses the most important relationship he can have that would provide all that he truly longs for. This relationship was severed by a simple act of disobedience drawn from the desire to want and be more.

When you look at the majesty of the Rocky Mountains or the phenomenal and surreal beauty of the Grand Canyon...when you look at others and see the vast differences in not only their appearance but also their values and opinions...when you look at the complexity of the atom or how each ecosystem functions right down to the micro-organism...what thunders in your heart? Are you in awe of creation?

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Genesis 1:1

Before all this came to be, there was God. He, an ageless and timeless spirit, desired a being that He could enjoy the wonders of intimate fellowship with. And to accommodate that being, He created the universe. He created our galaxy. He created our solar system with its unique set up around a sun that would be perfect to create life on a planet the perfect distance away from that sun. On that perfect planet, earth, He created all that we see to not only supply our needs but for us to enjoy. And once that was accomplished, God took dirt and molded it into the shape of a human being, then breathed life into it.

This creation He loved.

From the beginning, man had a free will. In those beginning days, he walked and talked with God. He enjoyed God's presence and had no need to seek anything else. But, the Temper, Satan, came, and caused man to disobey God, severing that most perfect and intimate relationship, and causing all of creation to fall into a great state of suffering and disarray.

Now, man became a slave to his own selfish desires. His pride became his task master, causing him to murder and steal and lie. Causing him to continually seek his own over that of others.

But most of all, mankind lost the knowledge of God, His Creator. God knew that would happen and He had a plan to rescue man--to rescue you.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made." John 1:1-3

He came to earth, as a babe, to grow to be a man who would pay the ransom demands of our sin, which was death.

"For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23

The wages, the ransom payment sin--which holds us hostage--demanded was death. So God, in His human form (Jesus Christ), suffered and died on the cross in our place. He was buried, like all men who die, but because He was God and therefore sinless, death could not hold Him in the grave.

Jesus Christ, the God-man, rose from the grave and walked again among His friends and those who loved Him. He did so until He returned to Heaven to be with God, the Father.
He became the first to break free from eternal death.

We can have that same break from death if we believe that we have done selfish acts that severed our relationship with God and if we accept that Jesus paid the price for our sins in order to reconcile us again to Him. God's perfect sacrifice was freely done for us. We don't have to earn it. We simply have to accept it.

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" I Corinthians 15:1-4

Do you feel a prick in your heart? Do you fear death? Do you see that your present life is not worth living?

Then consider this, the God of all creation knows you. He knows your thoughts, how you are feeling, and for what purpose He has created you for.

He loves you.

He loves you enough to die for you in order for you to be united with Him, not only in Heaven, but here on earth. The life you can live with Him is the true abundant life.

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." John 4:24

He is Spirit. Those that desire Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. You can talk with God right now. He is present and waiting for you to do so. You can ask Him to forgive your sins and tell Him you accept His free gift of eternal life. You can begin to worship Him this very moment.

And once you say this to Him, you will need to learn more about Him so that you can have that personal relationship, that fellowship that He's desired to have with you since before the world was created.

Get a Bible and read it. You can start with the book of John (look in the table of contents under the New Testament). Here's one you can purchase from Amazon.

Get into church and make friends. Here's a link to my church. If you don't live near Weatherford, Texas, you may listen to my church's live streaming. Or, you may be able to find a similar church near you that teaches God's Word.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17

When you believe and trust God for your life (for your life here and now, and for eternal life) start looking for evidence of Him working in your life: good things happening to you answers to prayer the unexpected happening. And take time to be still and hear His voice through His written Word and through the Holy Spirit speaking to your conscience. You'll know His voice because it will be consistent with His Word, the Bible.

When you believe and trust God, and bad things start happening, turn to His Word (the Bible) and pray. Seek Him to give you the answers, the strength, and the ability to overcome whatever happens. He has an amazing way of working through every situation for your good and for His glory.

God bless you, and to Him be all glory and honor and praise.