"I have come that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
About a year ago my husband and I had our first opportunity to go to an IKEA store while visiting some friends in Atlanta. I had heard all about how unique and wonderful these stores were so I was extremely excited to see what the fuss was all about!
After about five minutes in the store, I very quickly realized that this was my kind of place! The only way I could describe it for those who have never been to one is that it's basically a Swedish Wal-Mart! It's loaded with all kinds of reasonably priced gadgets, home goods, furniture, a restaurant, and a place for your kids to play while you shop.
While strolling through the store (which is so big you need a map to navigate it), I would periodically hear an advertisement for something on sale in the store and the ad would always end with,
"IKEA: The Life Improvement Store.".
I sort of chuckled the first time I heard it. I thought to myself, "Wow! This store knows how to fix your life, too!" Then I came to a realization. IKEA might be able to improve the temporal and frivolous aspects of our life, but the only true life improvement comes from having a personal relationship with Christ.
John speaks a lot in his Gospel about the life that comes from Christ. In fact, he references the life that Jesus gives a total of thirty-six times, from the bread of life to eternal life. Our focal verse talks about that abundant life that comes from knowing Christ.
There's a Gospel being preached in certain circles today that will tell you that this abundant life includes an abundance of riches and prosperity, along with impeccable health. They will tell you that if you only have enough faith, then surely God will provide all sorts of earthly blessings.
We have to realize something before we buy into such tempting teaching. God is way more concerned with your eternal salvation than He is with your status in this world. His desire is to see everyone's heart's healed from their sin sick state because unlimited physical healing would deprive us from the blessing of Heaven.
Jesus might not have come to pad your pockets and eliminate all aches and pains, but He does offer "life improvement."
Jesus gives hope to the hopeless.
He gives love to the lonely.
He brings peace in the middle of chaos.
But most importantly, Jesus gives life to the lost.
Eugene Peterson paraphrases John 10:10 so beautifully when he says:
"I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of." (MSG)
Friends, if you know Jesus as your Savior, then you'll get a mere glimpse of what real life is like here on earth, but we can't even dream up the kind of abundant life that He has in store for us in Heaven!
We're surrounded by people everyday who are hungering and thirsting for this kind of abundant life that Jesus gives. They are searching and trying to fill that void in their life with anything and everything, but they don't realize that it can only be filled by Christ. It is up to you and I to show them the way to the only life improvement that makes an eternal difference.
Have you shared Christ's life improvement with anyone lately?
About a year ago my husband and I had our first opportunity to go to an IKEA store while visiting some friends in Atlanta. I had heard all about how unique and wonderful these stores were so I was extremely excited to see what the fuss was all about!
After about five minutes in the store, I very quickly realized that this was my kind of place! The only way I could describe it for those who have never been to one is that it's basically a Swedish Wal-Mart! It's loaded with all kinds of reasonably priced gadgets, home goods, furniture, a restaurant, and a place for your kids to play while you shop.
While strolling through the store (which is so big you need a map to navigate it), I would periodically hear an advertisement for something on sale in the store and the ad would always end with,
"IKEA: The Life Improvement Store.".
I sort of chuckled the first time I heard it. I thought to myself, "Wow! This store knows how to fix your life, too!" Then I came to a realization. IKEA might be able to improve the temporal and frivolous aspects of our life, but the only true life improvement comes from having a personal relationship with Christ.
John speaks a lot in his Gospel about the life that comes from Christ. In fact, he references the life that Jesus gives a total of thirty-six times, from the bread of life to eternal life. Our focal verse talks about that abundant life that comes from knowing Christ.
There's a Gospel being preached in certain circles today that will tell you that this abundant life includes an abundance of riches and prosperity, along with impeccable health. They will tell you that if you only have enough faith, then surely God will provide all sorts of earthly blessings.
We have to realize something before we buy into such tempting teaching. God is way more concerned with your eternal salvation than He is with your status in this world. His desire is to see everyone's heart's healed from their sin sick state because unlimited physical healing would deprive us from the blessing of Heaven.
Jesus might not have come to pad your pockets and eliminate all aches and pains, but He does offer "life improvement."
Jesus gives hope to the hopeless.
He gives love to the lonely.
He brings peace in the middle of chaos.
But most importantly, Jesus gives life to the lost.
Eugene Peterson paraphrases John 10:10 so beautifully when he says:
"I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of." (MSG)
Friends, if you know Jesus as your Savior, then you'll get a mere glimpse of what real life is like here on earth, but we can't even dream up the kind of abundant life that He has in store for us in Heaven!
We're surrounded by people everyday who are hungering and thirsting for this kind of abundant life that Jesus gives. They are searching and trying to fill that void in their life with anything and everything, but they don't realize that it can only be filled by Christ. It is up to you and I to show them the way to the only life improvement that makes an eternal difference.
Have you shared Christ's life improvement with anyone lately?
Wow... its funny..everyone has told me about the IKEA store and I've not been yet...but you are so right...it is all about Jesus... and I keep trying to get back to where I was before this trial..this blessing....but I know that I can't count on feelings...so I guess I'll say joy...so I'll be in my garden again today...pruning....so I can clear my way to Jesus... thank you again..,,.
ReplyDelete.A. gain.....so true.