The Best Life Has to Offer, Can't Do This

We celebrated Thanksgiving last weekend, which is a favourite time of year for our family. I hope it is for you as well.

We visit local farms to pick apples, then get together and share a meal consisting of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and vegetables (I tend to pass on those). Then to top it off, we splurge on pumpkin and apple pie...with whipped cream!

The Thanksgiving holiday is in the Fall because it's the time of year we celebrate the harvest. After the toil of the Spring & Summer, we can finally enjoy the fruit of our labour...or more specifically, someone else's labour.

The table is filled with food and we eat until we can't eat anymore. Sound familiar?

The abundance is on full display.

But let me ask you a question.

Is this abundance?

In John 10:10, Jesus says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

This verse begs the question, "What is the abundant life?"

Is it all that we have to enjoy in this life, like good food? Or maybe a warm home and a reliable car in the driveway?

Maybe the abundant life is lying on a beach or sailing on a yacht. Or enjoying family and friends and great health?

Is this what Jesus came for?

I don't think so; but I'm afraid even Christians can get this wrong. I don't think it's hard to start to believe that all that we have, is a sign of God's blessings, to the point where we actually deserve it. There certainly are talking heads on TV who will try to sell you on the idea that God wants you to be healthy, wealthy and prosper in every way.

I think this is dangerous, and not what Jesus is talking about.

The abundant life that Jesus offers is Himself and the spiritual blessings that come from being a child of God.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." Eph 1:3

Spiritual blessings? Things like salvation, forgiveness, peace, and an eternal relationship with God himself.

These are the things that Jesus offers. This is the abundant life!

Want to know how I know that the true abundant life is spiritual and not material? Because nothing in this world satisfies. You can have everything in this life that you can imagine...wealth, a lake house, boat and multiple cars, an overflowing bank account, and none of it matters in the end.

Even the best this life has to offer; loving relationships with family and friends cannot be enough. They are good things, but they are not the ultimate things; and when we try to make them so, they will disappoint because they weren't meant to satisfy our deepest need.

That's what Jesus offers.

Questions I ask myself...

• Do I want Jesus more than anything or anyone?
• Am I satisfied in Jesus, regardless of what I have or don't have?
• How does my life reflect my satisfaction in Jesus?

Jesus said He is the gate and the sheep go through the gate to enjoy salvation and to pastures of spiritual blessings that outweigh anything and everything we could ever want in this world.

We should be grateful for every good gift, and every blessing, and not just once a year. But let's not embrace the lie that this world can satisfy.

The abundant life is a meaningful life.

Until next time - Dan