Abundant Life

Life is a gift, gift from God.  In the Gospel of John, Jesus proclaims that He is the way truth and the life. The fundamental fact in the possession of life was the vital relationship with God. Men first lived because God breathed into them the breath of life. Man's vital energies are the out flowing of the spirit, and all activities are dependent upon the vitalizing power from God.. In verse 10 of Chapter 10, It is written the phase ‘abundance of life’. It is giving a new meaning and new destination to life. What God desires for His people is to have happiness, peace and genuine friendship with Him and others.

Unfortunately many of us are still missing out the abundance of life experience. Perhaps they do not believe in the abundance of life is truly available to them. The good news is that, we all are invited to experience the abundance of life experience

I have come across a life story of Leo Tolstoy, author of War and Peace. In His book, a confession he tells the story of his search for meaning and purpose in life. He rejected Christianity as a child. As he went through he becomes very ambitious in achievements. First he thought that pleasure is the destiny of life. Having a great time. He entered the city of Moscow and habituated with heavy drinking a wild life. But it didn’t satisfy him. He then thought that may be money is the answer for happiness and inner peace. He had inherited an estate and made large amount of money out of his books. Yet that didn’t satisfy him. He then sought success, fame and importance. But still he said, it didn’t satisfy. Then he thought family life would bring happiness to him. He married to a nice woman and had thirteen Children. In reality, none of these things brought satisfaction in his life. One question brought him to the verge of suicide. What meaning has my life that the inevitability of death does not destroy. He searched for the answer in science and philosophy, but he became more dissatisfied. Eventually he found the answer in the peasant people in Russia, that their faith in Jesus Christ.

Christian life is built on the foundation of faith and gift of grace. The scripture says through faith we are saved. In the following part of  chapter 10, Jesus' then audience were unable to grasp the meaning of His actions or doin They were trying to find some point to trap Jesus instead of understanding or accepting Him. But the call to abundance of life is revealed and established in the general revelation of nature, and specific revelation through scripture and through the crucified one. Christian life includes a commitment of our intellect, emotions and will, to the gift of Gods love and forgiveness.

 As we walk in faith and obedience to God, our life will definitely change. Christian life is characterised by infinite limit of eternity. The consciousness of the fellowship with God led men to life., and daily war against ‘Sheol’. Focal point of eternity is the relationship with God.

Father T J Joshua said  ‘We are forgetting our ends and makings the means as the end’. In our life attempts, in our ministry we have to delve for the more realised truth and to transfer that reality to those who all encounter with us. No philosophy, no religion can hamper the truth which we realised in personal proclamation.

Abundance of life is not necessarily a life of comfort and ease. Life is not just limited in pleasure, performance, possession, position or pursuits. It is not something quick, but it evolved through our daily experiences. It is dependent on our responses to life.

Sigmund Freud had spoken of death and life instinct. Life instincts are important for the sustenance of our life. Behaviours commonly associated with life instinct include love and cooperation.  In Freud’s view, self destructive behaviours is an expression of the energy created by the death instincts. It is important for us to find the natural and environmental factors which would bring elements of death to our living experiences.

As counsellors, we need to be extending our service as a true shepherd. Those who come to us for help should see us not as stranger, but a true helper with proper empathy and genuineness.  Let us be the door of inner peace, and a way that leads to ultimate truth...

Let me conclude this short speech by reciting a favourite poem by Mother Theresa:

Life is an Opportunity, benefit from it...

Life is beauty, admire it...

Life is bliss, taste it...

Life is a dream realise it..

Life is a challenge, meet it...

Life is duty complete it...

Life is a game, play it...

Life is costly, care for it...

Life is wealth, keep it...

Life is love, enjoy it...

Life is mystery, know it...

Life is a promise, fulfil it...

Life is a sorrow, overcome it...

Life is a song, sing it...

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it...

Life is an adventure, dare it...

Life is luck, make it...

Life is too precious don’t destroy it...

Life is life, fight for it..

May God bless us all..!!