What do you suppose Jesus was talking about in John 10:10 when He told us that He came to give us life in all its fullness? This statement comes right after His warning that the enemy came only to steal, kill and destroy. We talked about this recently in our ladies' Bible study, linking it with Ephesians 1:18 where Paul prayed for his Christian family in Ephesus. Paul's prayer included the hope that their spiritual eyes would be opened to understand the wonderful future God had given them in Christ. So we spent some time thinking about what Jesus and Paul meant. Yes, we know they were in part talking about our future in Heaven. But Jesus also wanted us to have a full and abundant life here on earth, as did Paul. What does that mean exactly?
As we talked through this we realized that the two (our future in Heaven and our future here) really can't be separated. Because knowing we have a future in Heaven makes all the difference here on earth. Once the eternity question is settled, everything in our daily lives takes on a whole new meaning.
For example, nearly everyone would agree that a full and abundant life would include the love of family and friends. When we share the bond of love in Christ and the promise of Heaven, friendships and family relationships grow deeper and sweeter. Another abundant life quality is the freedom from fear. Knowing our place in Heaven is secure, and that God is in control, takes the fear out of our day-to-day lives. Nothing is going to happen to us here that is too big for God to handle. (See John 16:33)
God bless you today with His abundant life, and the kind of joy you see here on the face of my precious granddaughter Rebekah! We'll talk more about what that looks like in the days ahead, but in the meantime I hope you're rejoicing, as I am, in the awesome knowledge that Jesus truly does want the best for us, today and everyday, and He knows exactly what that is! "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
Deborah
