Life

Life

INTRODUCTION In John 11:25; John 14:6, Jesus says that He possesses life and that He is life.

John 11:25, "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life." John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life." Story told by Mr. McCully at Grace Church, February 18, 1959. A few years ago Nehru of India was visiting the U.S.A. and requested the pleasure of visiting Einstein who was probably the greatest brain that ever lived. Request granted. They talked of politics, travel, etc., and then Nehru said, "Mr. Einstein, the question that I came to ask is this, Have you found the meaning of life ?" Einstein bowed his head and replied, "No, I have not found the meaning of life." Does the Bible give us the answer to this question? My English student asked, "Why was I born? Why did God make me? Why am I here? What is the purpose of life?"

Dictionary: "It is the union of soul and body." This is true of humans, but not of plants.

"The state of being alive." This is true, but very ambiguous.

"The period between birth and death." This is not true, for life exists before birth.

"Life is the property of a plant or animal that involves growth, nutrition, respiration and reproduction. " The truth is that life is very difficult to define.

Life is a trust, a loan from God for a short period of time, Job 1:21, "The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord." Life is an intangible gift from God. We can neither see it , feel it, or bargain with it.

Life is an unsubstantial flimsy thing. It is here today and gone tomorrow.

Where did you get life from? From your parents. And where did they get it from? Inevitably one goes back to Eden and the creation of man.

Genesis 2:7, "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."

All life comes from God. 1 John 5:20, "This is the true God, and eternal life."

Life is a characteristic, an attribute, the very nature of the Almighty God.

The Bible speaks of three kinds of life:

Ephesians 2:1, "And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." This new life is a gift from God to the repentant sinner.

In Genesis 5:1-32, before the flood, the life span was an average of 846 years. In Genesis 11:1-32, after the flood the life span was reduced to 393 years. In Moses’ time, Psalms 90:10, "The days of our years are threescore years and ten (70); and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow." ’

Psalms 89:47, "Remember how short my time is."

Job 14:1, "Man that is born of a woman is of few days."

James 4:13-15, Life is like a vapour that quickly vanishes away.

Life is limited to a set time. Job 7:1, "Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? "

God in His sovereign will has set the span (length) of our lives. A sage told his disciples to prepare for death the day before they died. But they objected, "We may die tomorrow." "True," he replied, "then prepare today."

We are travelling on this journey whether we like it or not. Birth is an automatic start. To some it is a long, long journey. To others it is a very short one.

A shadow is such a poor imitation of the real thing. Can you recognize a person by his shadow? Shadows can be so deceiving, so long, so short. Life is like that.

If all that we knew about water was what we saw in steam, how limited our knowledge of water would be. You cannot drink steam. Water and ice are other forms.

Life on earth is like a bud that will open and develop in eternity. Life is too short.

Life is like an interesting story that is soon told and the people look for another form of entertainment. This was Shakespeare’s observation, too:

“Out, out, brief candle, life’s but a walking shadow, A poor player that struts and frets his hour Upon the stage and then is heard no more.

It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound And fury, signifying nothing."

Life is like water spilt on the ground. 2 Samuel 14:14, "For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again." In a moment the earth absorbs the moisture and it disappears.

First we see the blade, then leaves, and afterwards the beautiful bud. Slowly it opens and we gasp at its beauty. Then it withers and is gone-gone so soon, so quickly.

Some flowers never bloom. They are cut down in their prime; the harvesting sickle.

Life is a moment of time in which to prepare for the long, long, eternity. In this brief, fleeting, second of time we are asked to answer one question. The question: "Where do you wish to spend eternity?"

There are two great eternities. We must choose one or the other. No neutral ground.

CONCLUSION Paul said in Php 1:21, "For to me to live is CHRIST." Christ is life.

Jesus said to Martha, "... I am. . . the life. . ." Jesus is God and possesses eternal life.

Today make the right decision to be with Christ forever in heaven. When I invite Jesus to come into my heart, then He comes in and I am indwelt by God’s life, eternal life. When Jesus comes into the life He takes away the sin and cleanses the heart. With Christ within I am indwelt by eternal life and can never perish.

Decide today to invite Jesus into your heart and life. Revelation 3:20. The mystery of life is solved in the revelation of Jesus Christ to man.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

(a) before the flood (b) immediately after the flood (Genesis 11:1-32) (c) in Moses’ time?