Live…

Live…

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” ~ John 11:25-26

I often wonder if we truly understand what it means to live … to be alive. Do we consider that man was formed of the dust of ground and that God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and became a living being? (Genesis 2:7) Can we truly comprehend how God fashioned and formed us in the womb? (Ecclesiastes 11:5) Do we embrace that humans are fearfully and wonderfully made? (Psalm 139:14)

We live because God is sovereign over the work of His hands! He created and ordained for living creatures to fill the earth … and for man to have dominion over them. These truths have not changed since the beginning of creation. But it is apparent that when sin entered the world through man, we lost intimate communion with our Creator and source of life. We lost our breath … so to speak. And God has been calling out to us ever since: “Seek Me and Live!” (Amos 5:4)

Moses exhorted the children of Israel to follow the commandments of God. They were tested in the wilderness and taught that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Deuteronomy 8:3) Jesus affirmed this scripture during His own wilderness temptation; and He would use the metaphor to reveal His identity to those who believe:

John 5:48-51 (NIV)

I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

My friends, to believe in Jesus is to abide in Him … to be united with Him forever! He declared, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” Truly, Jesus is our breath of life! Think about these words Jesus shared with His disciples: “Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19)

In Galatians 2:19-20, Paul shared some profound insight for us to ponder: “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Indeed, let us live a life worthy of the calling we have received. (Ephesians 4:1) For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. (1 Thessalonians 4:7) Yes, whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did. (1 John 2:6) And I pray we will live in this light…. Amen!

Have a Blessed Day!