Jump Start # 1816

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

The abundant life. We just completed a series at my home congregation based upon this passage. It revolved around our theme for the year, “Life, the way it was meant to be.” For a dozen weeks we have looked in detail at just what Christianity looks like. It’s more than just sitting in a church building on Sunday. Everywhere we go, we are Christians. We never turn it off. It is never out of place. It affects our choices. It affects how we use our money. It is seen in what we do for fun. It is illustrated by what we do at home. It changes how we view death.

Before the first sin, God made Adam and Eve in the garden. It was called Paradise. They had a rich relationship with the Lord. This was not a place that they found Googling. This was a home, an environment and a world designed specifically for them by God. This is how God wanted it to be. Sin changed all of that. Because of sin, man lost the ideal that God created. Because of sin, man settled for other things. He opted for easier and cheaper alternatives than what God offered. And here we are. Most of us are not living life the way it was meant to be. We are plagued with worry. We are miserable. We complain. We fuss and fight at home, in traffic and at work. We want, but we are not sure what we want. We don’t know contentment. Church services become a form of spiritual spankings to remind us how bad we are. Days quickly turn into weeks, which become months and then years fly by. We are so busy that we don’t have time for meaningful relationships. Our social skills have fallen to a few abbreviated text messages throughout the day.

One must wonder, “Is this it?” Or, “Is this as good as it gets?” Are we living as God intended? Jesus not only came to give live, but He came to give it abundantly. Eternal life—living forever, is not found in medical science but in a promise of God. To live, really live, is not to escape responsibilities of life. It is not to live without rules. It’s not to live dangerously or foolishly. It is to live in Christ Jesus. Eternal life is found in Christ. He is the resurrection and the life. I am Life—stated in John 11 and in John 14. Anything other than this, will never be the life that God intended for you to live. To say, “I am a man but God intended for me to be a woman,” is foolish and without any Biblical basis. To say, “God may me Homosexual,” is foolish and without any Biblical basis. Life the way it was meant to be, is never going to be found in ignoring what God says. It’s not gong to be found in living selfishly or indifferently, especially to the Lord.

Life, the way it was meant to be, is a life of spiritual choices. It is not settling for the quick and easy. It is seeing the big picture. It is looking at things spiritually. It is reflected in decisions that look at consequences, faith, and eternity. Our choices shape the life that we life.

So, we begin with the question that every senior in high school is asked, “What do you want to do after high school?” That’s a tough question for an 18 year-old. Many want to just play video games. They haven’t thought about all those deep things. Making money is high on the list. Make money so I can buy stuff. And so the student is guided into fields that produce money. His passion may not be in those things, but he has been told that’s where the money is. If he can play sports, he’s pushed that direction. College ball. Pro ball. Super star. MVP. Proud dads standing beside these young athletes often signing their names to the devil as a life of ungodliness, immorality and obscene arrogance surrounds the superstar. Where’s God in these decisions? Like Lot, long ago, the fields near Sodom look good. He lost a wife and his daughters made wrong choices. The fields were good for his livestock but terrible for his soul. Peter tells us that Lot’s righteous soul was vexed every day by the things he saw and heard. Will that be your son or daughter in a college dorm? Will their soul be vexed by what they see and hear or will they not be bothered at all? Will they be a part of that?

Next, comes the important decision of who they date and later who they marry. “He’s a good guy,” does not describe high spiritual fiber. He may be good with fixing the car. He may be good at making your daughter laugh. He may be good at making money. But will he join her on the spiritual journey to Heaven? Has there been any discussions, interest during the dating process? Will he be in bed on Sunday mornings as she tries to get the kids ready for church by herself? Will the kids beg to stay home like daddy does? Will he plead for your daughter not to go to church on Wednesday evenings? The marriage will never be as God intended it to be as long as one part of it does not follow Christ. He may be a good man until he dies, but it will never be what God wanted it to be.

Next, comes the decision of where we will live. So often, if the college choice was made without any thought to finding a thriving congregation, this decision will follow. The job may take you far away from God’s people. It may place you near some dying congregation that is so discouraging that you just give up. Oh, the house is fine. Big. Fancy. Newest stuff. Big TV. Lots of storage. But where’s God?

What happens next, living without God, things start to slip. Words are said that never were said before. Questionable things do not seem so questionable any more. Alcohol finds it’s way into the home and lifestyle. Happy. Busy. Lots of friends. But living without God.

One day, one of the parents die. You travel back home for the funeral. You decide to drop in to the church that was a part of your parents life. Oh, the memories it brings back. There are faces you still remember. The preaching is good. The singing warms your heart. There is something that you have long forgotten about, your soul. For a few days, you think about your parents choices in life. You think about where they are now, after they have died. You wonder about yourself. But, it’s back to your world. Your job calls you back. You jump back in and these pleasant memories are forgotten.

And one day, it’s your turn. Your death. Your are remembered by your kids. Your accomplishments are praised. You are missed as a good person. Your kids, having grown up without God, assume, that your journey has ended. You are gone. The End. But it’s not. There is never a “The End” to our story. To your horror, you learn that your parents were right. You learn too late, that just being good isn’t enough. You have lived without God and now, by your own choices, you will live forever without God.

All of this takes us back to the thought that God has a life that He wants you to live. Life, the way that it was meant to be, is a life that surrounds God. Every attitude. Every decision. Every choice. They are all made with thoughts of God and our relationship with Him. Will this person, will this job, will this town be such that helps me get closer to God or not?

Life, the way it was intended to be, is not without struggles, trials and pain. It is not without sin. We will sin. But, it is a life that bounces back. Instead of justifying the sin, it seeks the mercy of God and looks at why the wrong and cheap choice was made.

We can live better than what we are. We can do better than what we are doing.

Are you living your life the way that it was meant to be? Are you living your life the way God intended it to be? Why not?

Roger

Jump Start # 1751

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” 

NOTE: Due to the holidays and some internal server updates there will not be a Jump Start tomorrow or one Monday. We plan to be back on Tuesday. Thanks.

Our verse today, found in the powerful “Good Shepherd” section describes the nature and work of Jesus. Specifically, our verse shows a contrast. Jesus is the good Shepherd. Satan is a thief. He is not just a thief. He is THE thief. Jesus gives. Satan takes. The use of the word “only,” tells us that there is nothing good, positive or beneficial in what Satan wants. When he speaks it is a lie. What he promises, never comes about. His intentions are to ONLY steal, kill and destroy. What he is set on stealing, killing and destroying, is you. There is never a right way to do wrong. There is never a way that wrong can be right.

Jesus is just the opposite. Instead of taking from us, He gives. He not only gives, but He enhances and makes things better. He gives life. He gives life abundantly. Abundantly– bucket loads. Our cup overflows. Remember when Jesus fed the multitudes? They ate until they were satisfied and then the disciples gathered up twelve basket full of leftovers. Abundance. Remember when the Lord ordered the disciples to cast out into the deep and lower their nets? The catch of fish filled the boats and they were nearly sinking because of so many fish. Abundance. God doesn’t work in small numbers. He’s in the abundance department.

Later today, I go to conduct a funeral. It seems that there are a lot of funerals around the holidays. Funerals are never fun, easy nor truly enjoyable. When they are so close to a holiday, they just dampen the spirit of the families involved. There is no getting around the idea that we are just days away from Christmas and a family is burying their aged mother.

In just the past few days, the wives of two preachers have passed away and an aged preacher was killed in a car accident. Tragic. Sad. Heart breaking for these families. But what a difference all of this makes when one has lived that abundant life that is found in Jesus Christ. For the families involved, the faith of a loved one who has passed away means a journey was completed. A faith was kept. A course was finished. It’s the “well done, good and faithful servant.” It’s the welcome home for those who have cherished the name of Christ.

This abundant life that Jesus offers is the best life that anyone can ever live. We so often put descriptive words in front of the word “life.” For instance, a good life. Or, a long life. A short life. A miserable life. A happy life. A bad life. A  troubled life. Those words sum up what that life was about. When someone states that they have a miserable life, what follows is the tragic tale of heartache, disappointments and failures. It was miserable.

In Christ, we have a word that sums up the walk of a Christian. It happens to be the title of a movie that is played over and over this time of year. That word is “wonderful.” In Christ, we live a “Wonderful life.” That doesn’t mean that every day is sunshine. That doesn’t mean that there are not struggles. But looking back over the years, fewer words sum up what we are doing other than, “It’s a wonderful life.”

Here’s why:

• It’s wonderful because through Christ, God considers you one of His children.
• It’s wonderful because you have forgiveness, peace and hope. It doesn’t matter what happens today, we’re headed to Heaven.
• It’s wonderful because our lives make sense. There is a purpose for us. God made us on purpose for a purpose.
• It’s wonderful because God’s word leads us, helps us and strengthens us.
• It’s wonderful because God is always there for us. Always.
• It’s wonderful because we get to know the greatest people on the face of the earth, other Christians.
• It’s wonderful because we are allowed to participate in the greatest work of all time, building the kingdom of God.
• It’s wonderful because God cares. We don’t struggle alone. We are to cast our worries upon Him.
• It’s wonderful because we can talk to God every day and all day if we want.
• It’s wonderful because we can do things that actually pleases God. He loves our worship.
• It’s wonderful because it never ends. We simply switch locations and we get to spend forever with Him.

The burdens of life can suck the air out of our souls. Tired Christians shuffle into church buildings with worry and troubles in their eyes. Our minds are elsewhere as the word of God is taught. We can lose our focus and get so caught up in the things that do not matter that before long, we start saying, “It’s hard being a Christian.” We start believing that there is little joy here. We view what we do as a duty, rather than a passion. We’ve forgotten that Jesus has given us life. Not just any ole’ life, but eternal life and an abundance of it.

Stop envying the wicked, as Proverbs reminds us. Don’t daydream about winning the lottery, being a rock star or having so much money that you could be foolish. There is no life in that. That life ends terribly at a dead-end street. Visit the funeral home. Give thought to what really matters. Look into the eyes of a two year old. You are a Christian. Hold your head up. Put that smile back on your face. Realize what you have. Count your blessings.

In the movie, “It’s a wonderful life,” George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, has one misfortune after another. He hates his job, the town he lives in and the way he is living. He becomes so despondent that he tries to take his life. It would be better, he thinks, if he had never been born. The movie shows what that would look like. He has touched many lives. He has made a difference to people all through the years. He has lived a wonderful life.

Great message in that movie. It misses one demission, and that is the spiritual. The best life here, without Christ, will never be the wonderful life. Only Christ can offer the abundant life. It is in Christ that we find what is truly life.

The wonderful life. Helping others. Walking with Christ. Living with hope in your heart. Forgiven. Free. At peace. Developing the best qualities of character in you. Leading and influencing others. A worshippers. A lover of life. Good. Honest. Kind. Sweet. Joyful. Prayerful. This life isn’t based upon where you live. It doesn’t matter if it is “Bedford Falls,” as in the movie. Or, Lanesville, Indiana, where I live. Or, NYC. Or, Norway. Or, Nigeria. Or, Philippines. Doesn’t matter whether I live in a house or an apartment. It doesn’t matter whether I live in the city or out in the country. Anywhere. Everywhere. I can have a wonderful life if I live it in Jesus Christ.

Get to know the Lord. Love Him. Obey Him. Trust Him. Follow Him. Become like Him. Life changes when you do that. Your outlook changes. Your values change. Your perspective changes. Suddenly, you find yourself living a wonderful life. It’s the best life. Don’t listen to those who try to throw water on your faith. Don’t pay attention to those who don’t understand. Don’t follow those who are dancing with the devil. You know. Christ has shown you. It’s proven in the Scriptures. That wonderful life is in Jesus Christ.

Pitiful, sour and discouraged Christians are Satan’s way of saying, all of this isn’t working. It’s time to get over those things. Put your trust in the Lord, roll up your sleeves and get busy and raise the sails for we are on a journey to Heaven. We are marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion. Won’t it be wonderful there?

What a life…a wonderful life…

Thank you, Lord.

Roger

Jump Start # 915

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

I went to a Styx concert recently. The guys can still play after all these years. There was a line in one of their songs that stuck with me. It’s from their song, “Pieces of eight.” The song begins,

“It’s six o’clock

Good morning sounds are everywhere.

The warmth of spring, a gentle breeze blows through my hair.

I hurry through my life never stopping to see,

How beautiful it was meant to be.”

I hurry through my life never stopping to see, how beautiful it was meant to be! Life is meant to be beautiful. The fast pace, the full schedules, the stress, the chaos can make us miss how beautiful life was meant to be. Does that hit you?

Jesus came not just so we could have an amazing life in eternity, but to bring the abundant life now. “I came that they may have life…” Many exist, a few live. Many go through the motions, a few actually live. The abundant life begins with forgiveness and a journey with God that is full of purpose, direction and destination. With Jesus, life is more than just getting things and being happy. It is seeing, using the phrase from Styx, ‘how beautiful it was meant to be.’

Lets focus on that beautiful life in Jesus. What’s there? What’s so appealing about it? Some don’t see it. They see rules and church and watching what you say and sitting through stuffy sermons and restrictions. Like a little boy wearing a dress shirt and tie at a wedding, he pulls and stretches the collar constantly, and is most miserable. This is the concept some have of Christianity. A beautiful life is not the words that they would use to describe it. I doubt the boys in Styx had a walk with Jesus in mind when they penned those words. For many, the beautiful life would consist of freedom, doing whatever you want, and especially, not having anyone else telling you what to do. That is not beauty and is a cover for reckless sin that leaves a trail of pain, addictions, and misery.

What is beautiful about the walk with Jesus?

It begins with realizing that the God of Heaven and Earth loves you. He really loves you. The governor of my state doesn’t even know that I exist. He doesn’t know my name and he never thinks of me, calls me, invites me. I do not exist to the governor. The same goes for the mayor. The same goes for the President. Yet, with God it’s different. As busy as God is, as many other people more important than me, with greater needs than me, God still thinks about me, loves me and invites me to walk daily with Him. How beautiful that is. I am never alone, God is with me. I have the greatest help with God. That tends to evaporate fears, troubles and worry. God is with me and wants to be there. Amazing. What a beautiful life.

I am surrounded by the greatest virtues of character, when I am walking with God. Grace, forgiveness, peace, joy, purpose. These attributes belong to God. They are blessings upon us. We tend to think of blessings in terms of sunshine, jobs and food in our belly. The best blessing cannot be seen with our eyes. These are the characteristics of God that He shares with us. To be forgiven is powerful. Gone are the wrongs, the mistakes, the sins that hurt others and angered God. Gone. Gone forever. Washed clean by the blood of Jesus. What a beautiful life to be loved and to be forgiven. A second chance. A chance to do things right this time.

In our hands is placed the greatest plan, words and hope this world has ever seen—the Bible. What a blessing that we do not have to try to “find or figure” God out. He reveals. He tells. He shows. With this powerful book, we know. We know where we came from. We know where we are going. We know what we are supposed to do. We know our place. We know His place. What a beautiful life to be guided in the right direction.

With us are the greatest people on the face of the earth, God’s people. They come from all walks of life. Some are just as simple and common as they come, but they shine because of God. They have a goodness and a real sense of concern about them. They are special, to God and to us. They are there when you need them. They care. They support. They defend. They love. God’s people all around us, reminding us that we are not alone. We are not the only ones who are trying to do right. The world is not completely gone. What a beautiful life to have God’s people in your life and counted upon as dear, dear friends.

What a beautiful life to worship God. How amazing it is that He listens to us. How wonderful it is that He likes our singing, especially those of us that can’t sing well. He wants us to remember His son’s death. He wants us to praise Him. Worship is good and right. It brings God back into our world and our life. Worship is much more than “going to church,” or, “do I have to go,” thinking. Worship is exciting and rich with joy and love as we get to spend time with God. What a blessing that is.

What a beautiful life…and I haven’t even said anything about Heaven. I wonder, like Styx sang, if I hurry through my life, never stopping to see, how beautiful it was meant to be. When you do stop and see it, it makes you thank God. It makes you realize things aren’t so bad. It makes you realize, I am blessed and I wouldn’t trade places with anyone.

How beautiful life was meant to be…

Roger

Jump Start # 547

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” 

  Our passage today continues our thoughts from our last Jump Start. This section of Scripture describes Jesus as a shepherd and not just any shepherd but the good shepherd. He knows the sheep by name and the sheep recognize His voice. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. In contrast, the thief only takes for himself and leaves things a mess.

  The thief? Obviously, Satan fits in that picture easily. He does nothing that is good. He does not add value. He takes. He destroys. He kills. That’s Satan. Others, might fit into that mold as well, such as, the false teachers and even some of the Pharisees, that we squeezing life out of those who wanted to come to God. Their many man made rules made life unbearable and they made the journey to God extreme and difficult.

  Jesus came to give life. What a contrast here. He gave His life, so we could have life. A life was lost so a life could be found. He didn’t just restore life, He gave it abundantly. To the fullest. The good life is found in Jesus.

  When does this life start? At first, we’d think of Heaven. We sing, “Won’t it be wonderful there…” And it will be. These last few days have taken me to the home of one of our members. His life is nearly over. The dear family gathers and waits. It’s touching and sad. I have been at similar scenes often. Some day, in Heaven, there will be no tears, no death, no sorrow. Indeed, it will be wonderful there. There with the righteous. There and never having to be somewhere else. The end of the journey. The final destination. Home and never again having to leave. Those are great thoughts to me.

  However, I think Jesus intended for the disciples to understand that between here and Heaven, there is an abundant life. It can be found here. It can be now, while we’re on earth. I don’t think we grasp that enough. The image I get from some is that it’s hard being a Christian, nearly terrible, but if we can only hold on, we’ll eventually get Heaven. The dreariness and the difficulty they feel drains all life and energy out of them. They enter church buildings not with a smile because they get to worship God, but with a frown because life is so hard.

  I don’t get that picture from the N.T. I don’t get that from this passage. The abundant life is now. It’s a fantastic life because it’s filled with grace and hope and promises and future and fellowship with God. He doesn’t just allow us to work in His kingdom, but He works with us and through us. He trusts us enough to be part of something eternal. I wouldn’t be shocked at all if God, like a parent with a child in a glass shop, would say, “Look, but do not touch one thing.” God doesn’t do that. He entrusts His perfect word, about His perfect Son to imperfect preachers, like myself. He allows former sinners of all types, to lead His people and to develop the kingdom.

  The abundant life. It’s filled with joy and peace and confidence. We don’t know about tomorrow, but God does. I hold God’s hand, that’s all I need. The abundant life is lived without the shallow and superficial and artificial and temporary things such as materialism, greed, pride, selfishness, or putting others down. We want everyone to have what we have. I don’t have to be rich in money to be rich in God. I don’t have to be well read, well traveled, or well educated to have this meaningful, full life. Some of the best people I have ever met were common, content and generous because of Jesus Christ. They lived in simple homes. They didn’t eat the fancy stuff. They didn’t feel neglected because they never went to Europe, sky dived, or had a degree from a university. Many would look at their life proclaim that it was boring. Not to these folks. They didn’t need “things” to make them fulfilled and satisfied. They never kept a bucket list because if a person dies without doing all the bucket things, someone will think what a disappointment. Not to those living abundantly in Jesus. They have found what they were looking for, it’s Jesus. The look is over.

  The life with Jesus is great. What a joy it is to worship God. Passion, energy and a wealth of love and fellowship abound when those with the abundant life worship. Others are looking for something, they don’t know what. They try changing this, changing that, changing churches, changing mates, changing cars, changing houses, changing jobs, always changing, and never realizing the abundant life, the good life, is found in Jesus.

  Jesus changes us. We become holy when we walk with Jesus. It’s hard not to, because He was so holy. We become mindful of Heaven when we walk with Jesus. It’s where we are going. We become generous when we walk with Jesus. That’s the way He is with us. We become thoughtful of others when we walk with Jesus, that’s the way He is to us.

  The abundant life is not defined by never having to go to work, nor having so much money that you could buy whatever you wanted, nor by living in a mansion, nor by hanging out with celebs, nor by what sporting events you attended, nor by what art hangs on your wall, nor by what cars are housed in your garage—that’s the world’s definition. It’s all phony, shallow, and selfish. It’s all about what I get for me. It doesn’t last. It doesn’t do what you think it would, nor does it give that lasting abundant life.

  Jesus came and gave life. It begins with forgiveness and it continues as we walk and journey with Jesus. I am a friend of Jesus, what else matters. I am a child of God. The promise of God is that He is always with me. I can talk to God anytime. I can read, learn and know His heart, His will and His law, the Bible. I can live satisfied, contented, and in peace because of Jesus. The riches are within and can never be taken away, as long as continue with Jesus.

  Abundantly. Not just a little bit. Not just a spoonful. Not even half full. Abundantly. David said, “surely my cup overflows…” It’s now. It’s here. It’s what Jesus gave. It’s life!

Roger