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38th Street Church of Christ 3904 38th Street NW Canton, Ohio 44718 330-492-5523 Fax: 330-493-7119 |
“The Abundant Life” |
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I. Introduction.
A. How we live, how we view life, determines what quality
of life we have now, and what spiritual condition we will
experience eternally.1. We really must expand our thinking beyond
physical life and its circumstances.2. Have to consider the wider, larger view of life,
death – and beyond.B. But, while the future is important, and preparation for it
necessary, we must still live in the present. To neglect the
things of today is to rob ourselves of the joys and benefits,
as well as responsibilities, of life. It’s to rob ourselves of
what Jesus came to give all mankind: “the abundant life.”C. Look at Jesus’ statement in John 10:7-11. Jesus says He
came to give people an “abundant” life and that kind of
life is God’s desire, and promise, for His people.1. Word “abundant” is defined as “. . . in plentiful
supply; ample; . . .”2. Jesus tells us: “I came to provide you with a
plentiful life; a life that is full, and fulfilling.3. But, that’s for the future, right? Things are
difficult now, but we must keep that promise of an
abundant life in mind, and, someday, we’ll have
that. We have to survive, now, to be rewarded
later. In fact, to some, it seems almost sacrilegious
to expect to have that full and fulfilling life in this
world. Jesus was talking about eternity. But, He
wasn’t.4. The promise of an abundant life is for now as well
as for eternity.D. Experiencing, and enjoying, the “abundant life” is a matter
of perspective – an eternal perspective as opposed to an
earthly perspective. What’s the difference?1. The “earthly perspective” is that there is no real,
ultimate happiness. Life is a series of struggles –
physical, emotional – and we do the best we can,
then we die. We had better just do all we can now,
because death is an end. Accumulate now; live for
today. Here is your enjoyment and whatever
“abundance” life provides. We live; we die.2. The “eternal perspective” is that, yes, life is
difficult, at times, and life in the world is not always
fair and just. Real peace, and happiness, are hard to
sustain. But, life is more than physical
circumstances; more than what I have. And that
“something more” can sustain me in the darker
days. My faith, and God’s promises, can make life
abundant, now and forever.3. In I Corinthians 3, Paul says: “. . . all things are
yours . . . things present or things to come – all are
yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.”
(verses 21-23).E. To take the “eternal perspective” is to see the future as
now. To have the “abundant life” Jesus came to give
everyone who would obey Him.II. The Future Is Now.
A. The future. Is history moving toward a definite,
determined conclusion? Or is the world’s end an open,
unknown matter, with no definite conclusion in sight?
Our acceptance of the fact there is a God, and the Bible
is His book – or our rejection of these ideas – has a
direct bearing on how we answer these questions.1. If you were to characterize the majority of people
in regard to their thinking about the future, would
you use the term “optimistic” (hopeful; confident),
or “pessimistic” (negative; unsure; hopeless)? Or,
are they “fatalistic” – resigning to the idea that the
world is inevitably running out of everything
(including time) – everything but problems?2. Different eras would probably produce different
majorities. (Turn of the 20th century, very
optimistic; World War I, brought pessimism; our
own time, maybe more “fatalistic” – especially
post-World War II nuclear age).3. Who can life an abundant, fulfilled, joyous life in
such an atmosphere? The Bible says: “anyone
can.”4. But, is the majority of people getting, or under-
standing, that message of an “abundant life?”
Are a majority of Christians getting, and under-
standing Jesus’ point in John 10:10? Whether we
are, or not, depends upon whether we take the
“earthly” or “eternal” view. As Christians, we’re
supposed to take the eternal perspective
(Colossians 3:1-2: “If then you were raised with
Christ, seek those things which are above, where
Christ is, sitting on the right hand of God. Set your
mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”)B. Today, there are numerous “religious” authorities who give
people a picture of the Bible as little more than a manual
for “doomsday.” Instead of presenting Christ as a source
of present, and future, abundance, they focus attention upon
events in the world. Every political leader becomes a
potential “Anti-Christ,” and every conflict around the globe
a prelude to “Armageddon.”1. Instead of the optimistic “good news” of salvation
and eternal life, they present a steady diet of
pessimistic, or fatalistic, bad news about death and
destruction.2. If you remember nothing else from this lesson,
remember this: the Bible is a book for both present
and future. In Christ, the “future is now.”3. Christ counters a fear of the future. He is our hope
both now, and for the future.C. The key to joy and fulfillment in life is in Christ.
D. Look more carefully at Jesus’ words in John 10.
1. That section of gospel begins with a story of a
shepherd and his sheep. (verses 1-5; READ).2. There is no more-comforting picture there than
that of Jesus as the “Good Shepherd.” Was hardly
a picture more-familiar to Jesus’ listeners than that
of a shepherd and his sheep.a. The central part of Judea was a plateau,
stretching for a distance of about 35 miles,
from Bethel to Hebron. Ground, for most
part, was rough and stony. On that ground
was found the familiar figure of the
shepherd.b. The life of shepherd was hard one. In
Palestine, no flock ever grazed without a
shepherd, and no shepherd was ever off
duty.c. As there is sparse grass, sheep were bound
to wander, often far from flock. Since there
were no protecting walls or fences, sheep
always had to be watched.d. On either side of the central plateau, land
dipped sharply down to craggy deserts –
where sheep could easily be lost.e. It was shepherd’s task to both watch, and
guard, sheep, as land was full of wild
animals, especially wolves. Were also
thieves ready to steal sheep from a lax
shepherd.f. Constant vigilance, courage, love for his
flock – these were characteristics of a
shepherd – and of the Good Shepherd, Jesus.3. Jesus is the Shepherd who will:
a. Risk His life to seek and save one straying
sheep.b. Have pity on people because they are
“. . . like sheep not having a shepherd . . .”
(Mark 6:34).4. Jesus is the Shepherd of the souls of His sheep
(I Peter 2:25: “For you were like sheep going
astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and
Overseer of your souls.”).5. The Palestinian shepherd’s equipment was simple:
a. A script – a bag made of skin of an animal
in which he carried his food.b. A sling – a weapon to defend himself and
his flock. Also used sling to call back a
straying sheep by landing a stone in front of
sheep’s nose, as there were no “sheep dogs.”c. A staff – another weapon of defense against
animals and thieves.d. Finally, his rod – a longer wooden shaft to
catch and pull back sheep. When sheep
entered the fold for night, shepherd held
rod across entrance, close to ground, so that
every sheep had to pass under it. Examined
sheep for injuries.6. In Palestine, sheep were kept primarily for wool –
and could be with shepherd for years. He might
give them names and call them by name. (v. 3).
And, he went ahead of sheep, to make sure path
was safe. The sheep got to know – and
understand – shepherd’s voice (verse 4).E. Every detail of a shepherd’s life and work illuminates the
picture of the Good Shepherd, whose sheep hear His voice
and follow Him, and Whose love and constant care of His
flock opens up the abundant life.III. The “Joy Robbers.”
A. We may let others take that abundant life, and eternal
perspective, from us. Are two types of “joy robbers.”1. Those who say: “Live only for today, because
there is no real hope for the future.a. (Illust.)
Cartoon showed two men carrying big
signs. One sign read: “The world is about
to end.” The other sign stated: “The world
will never end.” One person observing
these men said, “One’s a pessimist and one’s
an optimist, but I’m not sure which is
which.”b. (Illust.)
French writer, Albert Camus, tells the old
Greek myth of a man condemned to spend
eternity rolling a huge stone up a mountain,
only to have it roll back down again. The
message? There is no hope; all our
strivings, our efforts, our dreams come to
nothing.c. If there is no better future, then we live only
for the present, in a world caught up in
self-indulgence and despair.2. Then, there are those who say: “The best we can
hope for is joy in Heaven.”a. Opposite extreme of first statement. Not
what Jesus taught in John 10.b. As ‘the door” (verse 7), Jesus gives us
access to God. He opens way to God. He
shows us what God is like.c. Through Jesus we can “go in and out”,
(verse 9), a phrase that describes a safe and
secure life. Life in the hands of God,
watched over by the Good Shepherd, is life
without worries or fears.d. Through Jesus we can have “. . . life, and . . .
have it more abundantly.” (verse 10). Greek
phrase means to have a surplus or greater
amount of something.e. To be a follower of Jesus, to know Who He
is and what He desires for us is to have a
“surplus” of life, now and forever.B. We don’t have to sacrifice a good life now to have a
glorious future. We don’t have to be miserable now to
be at peace forever. Christ is our “bridge,” our connection,
between present and future.IV. Conclusion.
A. The “eternal perspective” gives us the real meaning of life.
Abundant living is found in the reality of God, and Christ,
in everyday life.B. The future worth having begins here and now.