Desparate or Abundant

"I think most lives are desperate and painful, despite surface appearances. If you consider anyone's life for long, you find it's without meaning"-novelist Russell Banks ("Continental Divide" by Jerome Weeks, Dallas Morning News, March 2, 1999).

Mr. Banks is hot property at the moment. Affliction is a film, nominated for several Academy Awards, made from one of his novels. Apparently, it is the depressing tale of a chain of alcoholic fathers and sons, a subject which prompted the comment above.

Contrast that with the words of Jesus in John 10:10, "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly."

As you might expect from a publication called Abundant Life, we believe Jesus presents a better view of life and its meaning. But what of this vast difference? How is it that two such radically different ideas about the same subject exist?

Perhaps it is perspective. Mr. Banks is the product of a broken home, with an abusive father who left home when he was only 12. Mr. Banks himself has been married four times. It is easy to see how someone with this kind of life has come to view God's great gift with such disdain.

Contrariwise, Jesus speaks from the perspective of One who is both Giver of life and living human being. Jesus experienced this life, and not without pain and suffering, but He overcame those false modifiers of life, understanding that the life we live here is such a small part of eternity. No one denies that suffering exists; we are not Pollyannas. In fact, Jesus prophesies that His followers will suffer persecution (Jn. 15:20). In addition, all men will die (Heb. 9:27), and many will suffer in old age before they do (Eccl. 12:1-7). But suffering does not define our lives.

What then, is this abundant life that Jesus promises? First, we must consider that those who follow Jesus will be given eternal life after death (Matt. 25:31-46). This life will be without suffering, death or tears (Rev. 21:4), and will be characterized by an endless joy at the presence of our God (Rev. 22:1-5). Certainly, that life will be blessed abundantly.

But we believe there is more to it than that. Ultimately, we look to and long for our home in heaven with Christ, especially in times of suffering, but we also experience the abundant life of Jesus here on this earth.

Consider the joy that is ours when a lost soul obeys the gospel, or when the prodigal return to their Father. Jesus said the angels of God rejoice over such repentance (Lk. 15:10). Don't we as well? If we are truly His, our goals are His and we find great joy in the accomplishments of His word.

What of the joy that is ours when we see our children obey the Lord? It is a beautiful and awesome responsibility to be entrusted with this "gift of the Lord" (Ps. 127:3), and to see them come to God is to experience both joy and satisfaction.

When we view this life from God's perspective, we come to understand the beauty and greatness that comes with a relationship with Him. Our lives are defined, and take their meaning from His redemption and from the work that we do for His cause.

It is sin which wrecks and ruins lives. Wrongdoing and disobedience causes men to live desperately and without meaning, and only Jesus can do anything about that (Acts 4:12). Sinners will find lives without meaning because life ultimately only has meaning when it goes on, and sin brings death (eternally).

Our goal as Christians is to have a life which goes on after the suffering of this earth, and we have faith and confidence that our God is able to supply us with just such a life. We have that faith and confidence because our Lord and Savior left an empty tomb in Jerusalem (Lk. 24:4-7), and that defeat of death and Satan (Heb. 2:9-15) fills us with hope that we will one day do the same (1 Cor. 15). Rather than living lives of desperation, we live hope-filled lives which find meaning in God's great love for us (Jn. 3:16).

Finally, it is Jesus who provides meaning and value to our lives when He proclaims that God watches over us (Matt. 10:29-31). On this huge earth, in this vast universe, God takes time to care for little me (Ps. 8). Man need not live a life without meaning, because Jesus has provided a joyous abundant life.