Sometimes life has a way way of getting in the way with our….life. Or, rather what we hope or envisioned our life to be before we were so rudely interrupted with….life. Actually Jesus said this about life: “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” Mat. 10:37-39 The word LIFE mentioned there is the Greek word psuche, which is referring to our natural life on the earth today. It also means our living soul. The part of us which is the interface of dust and spirit. This Greek word is identical to the Hebrew word nephesh which also means a living soul. It says in Genesis 2:7 that when God created man, He picked up some dirt from the ground and formed it, breathed on it and man became a living soul! Each human, whether they have a relationship with God or not, is filled with this natural life that comes from that initial declaration when God said, “multiply and replenish the earth”. We all are continuing on, as always, due to the power in God’s release of life. ”And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.” – Mat. 19:29
This word for life is the Greek word ZOE, which means eternal life. It is different than the natural life we live on the earth. Jesus pointed to this eternal perspective in most of His teachings. He was referring to the Kingdom and to eternal life. The big thing to understand is when we become a follower of Jesus Christ, OUR LIFE should be seen as over. We are to no longer live for ourselves or our desires. We die to what we think, feel and want and LIVE the new life (ZOE) we have been given in Jesus Christ . “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” – Mat. 7:13,14 It is all about living a few years here in preparation for a much bigger destination and purpose. Jesus’ teachings were all about our stewardship of our eternal soul, not just getting all we can while here. This eternal perspective is what Paul meant in Galatians. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20 So we can have and live out of that eternal life NOW while on the earth. Jesus did it and said we also could live it as well. |
AuthorPastor Marc Lawson Archives
July 2018
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AboutThere are 168 hours in every week. The 166 Factor is the answer to the question: "Who are you the OTHER 166 hours a week when you are NOT in church?" Join the community here as we will be discussing this and other topics related to Reformation in the Church, The End of Church (As We Know It) & The 166 Lifestyle.
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