We see it
described in the Bible as a pretty amazing kind of life:
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;
Col 3:12-15 Put on
then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility,
meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with
one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these
put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the
peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one
body. And be thankful.
Phil 4:11-13 I have learned in whatever situation I am to be
content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and
every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger,
abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
1 Peter 1:8 Though
you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe
in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
Do these verses describe the life that you live? I hope they
do. I hope you can tell me that most of the time, you live a life like this. I
just don’t think that is true for most people. I visit with a lot of people, mostly Christians, many of them people who
love the Lord and are trying to live a good life, but most are not living a
life they would describe as abundant, rich, full, happy, peaceful, content,
with sweet harmonious relationships.
Imagine life fully free and fully whole, a life filled with
joy every day, even when you had to face hard times. Imagine a life of peace,
no worry or anxiety, just peace. Imagine being content no matter what your
situation is. Imagine that your every response would be compassionate,
forgiving, kind. Imagine being full of love for every person you meet.
Imagine having power when you pray, and confidence when you come to God. Imagine having courage to share about Jesus everywhere you go.
This is not a dream, this is the life we were created and
redeemed to live.
So, as redeemed, born again people, with the Holy Spirit
living in us, why don’t we live this way?
We are in a battle. We don’t often know it or realize it,
but we are.
Jesus said that he came to give us abundant life. Listen to
the whole verse. John 10:10
The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come
to give you abundant life.
There is a thief, an enemy who is out to get us. There is an enemy of our souls who wants to
ensnare us. Satan’s first desire is to take as many humans to hell as possible.
He wants to physically kill human beings, steal their very soul, and destroy
them in every way. We see that all
around us. Terrible atrocities and violence inflicted all around; wars,
genocide, murder, fighting, evil of all kinds. All designed by our enemy. And,
he wants to keep people from believing in Jesus Christ as the son of God and
coming into a relationship with Him. We see the results all around, people who
are blinded, pursuing wealth and power, given to the pleasures of the flesh,
believing in ridiculous ideas and man made religions. Satan entices man with
every invention of the imagination.
But some of us escape. God has snatched us out his evil
grasp. By God’s mercy and grace we have believed in Him, been born again, have
the Spirit of God living in us.
I am sure that that greatly disappoints our enemy. But, when
that happens, Satan does not give up and leave us alone. His second purpose is
to keep us from living the life that God meant for us. He wants to steal our
peace with fear, worry, anxiety. He wants to kill our joy with bitterness and
hatred. He wants to destroy our purpose with addictions of all kinds, sexual
sin, with boredom, with legalism, shame, and passivity.
Satan is at war with us, and we have to understand that. We
have to fight the battle. Jesus has won the war. Jesus has already defeated
this enemy. But, every day we are to fight the battle in our own lives.
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be
sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a
roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith,
No doubt, we have an enemy that is out to get us, and we are to fight for our lives.
(to be continued)
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