Jesus speaks some of my favorite ‘feel good’ words. The Good Shepherd says to His sheep who follow Him:
“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (Jn. 10:9–10)
Other translations of that phrase are: “…may have life to the full” and “…have a rich and satisfying life.” We’re sure to find that in heaven, but I believe He intends for us to have that blessing now, as well.
The idea of such a life – abundant, rich, and satisfying – is most welcome, but it’s also hard to imagine. Yes, God is powerful, good, and loving – blessing us with fantastic promises. That, however, doesn’t mean that even every believer is living a happy and dynamic life all the time. That’s not the reality of the lives most folks live. Real lives experience disappointments, trials, and tribulations that hurt and discourage us.
There’s a lot of negativism and doubt even in the lives of many who want to believe in Heaven’s blessings of joy and the peace that passes understanding. What we need to realize is that, as ‘free-moral-agents’, we can choose good or evil, right, or wrong, and we all too often choose the wrong, bad, evil way. The daily news proves this every time they report all the terrible things we do to each other. God proved it too when He sent the Great Flood to destroy all those mean and nasty people.
Jesus told Martha that her sister, Mary, had chosen the good/better part (Jn 10:41). You and I are given the ability to think, decide, and pick which way we want to be. It’s easy to see that God’s way is best. It’s the only right way; it works!
-John Driggers (3/18/2024, V6 #12)
