“I am come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10b
Yes, I look forward to the Lord’s return, and to an Eternity with Him—face to face. I’m excited about seeing my many loved ones who are waiting for me—my parents, two brothers and one sister who died as babies before I was born, my sister who died at age 72, my grandparents, a beloved nephew, friends, and my ancestors who prayed for succeeding generations as I pray for those who will follow. Meanwhile, I’m rejoicing and savoring LIFE NOW—that physical, material, concrete life on earth illumined and transformed by God’s Holy Spirit who Indwells me, and every other individual who has trusted in the salvation and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus never promised material prosperity or excellent health while we are alive on earth. Countless non-believers enjoy prosperity and good health, just as many Christian believers experience exactly the opposite. We are all here together on a planet which fell prey to disease and destruction due to man’s rebellion. But because the Lord Jesus Christ is with us NOW, through His Indwelling Holy Spirit, we can have His Abundant Life NOW regardless of circumstances, good health—or the lack of it.
Tragically, there are Christians who endure lackluster lives simply because they believe the Abundant Life is relegated to some kind of spiritual state apart from our concrete lives: an emotional high, an experience, or a vague condition detached from our everyday routine and tangible reality. Yes, the Abundant Life is spiritual, but it is also our God-given reality on earth as we bring God’s Spirit to our relationships and activities.
I once heard a Christian say, “There is nothing on this earth that interests me—only the ‘spiritual’. I simply want to be with the Lord.”
This shocking declaration would be understandable had it come from someone in a situation of extreme suffering, poverty, or deprivation. Obviously there are places and circumstances in the world where the tragic conditions of human life defy description. But barring extremes, we are to appreciate the potential beauty of each moment which God has given us—while responding with gratitude for His many blessings. While we wait with eager anticipation for Heaven, we are still here on earth. We Christian believers ARE with the Lord now—because His Spirit lives in us!
God created Earth and He proclaimed it “GOOD”. He placed mankind on EARTH. Man sinned, and the EARTH suffered along with the human race. Yet our sinless God cared enough about us to take on fallen human flesh, and pay the penalty for our sin. He came to live among us on EARTH—while ultimately yielding His perfectly righteous life in atonement for our sin. Christ will return to reign with justice and perfect righteousness on EARTH. He will heal us and His EARTH from the disasters which have resulted from man’s sin. Thus the prophet Malachi has written: “But to you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings . . . .”
Again, prosperity and/or good health may not be a part of the Abundant Life on earth. Yet the absence of those blessings can provide a setting for the believer’s witness of God’s Indwelling Holy Spirit. In the last seven years of my life I have had nine surgeries—three of them major. These surgeries have been God’s Holy Ground for me. Never in life have I had more “spiritual” blessing along with “down-to-earth” palpable peace. Never have I had more joy in people and my routine activities, more excitement over the present and anticipation of the future than I’ve had over the last seven years filled with one health issue after another. God’s Grace abounds in proportion to our need, and His Spirit has done it all.
My colon surgery took place on December 23rd, 2010, less than three months after I’d had a spinal fusion. During that December hospital stay members of the staff—both nurses and aides—wandered into my room just to chat. I was considered a curiosity, because there I was with a very unpleasant health issue during the Christmas week—yet after the first post-op day I was smiling and delighted with life: with the bit of tea and jello I was allowed for starters, and with the many visits from family members. Several of the hospital crew asked the same question: “You are in the hospital over CHRISTMAS! How can you be so happy?”
Of course I had an authentic answer. “No matter where you and I may be at CHRISTMAS, Jesus Christ was born. He is my Lord and Savior! He makes it all good, no matter what!”
Because of His Abundant Life, every moment and every day on earth is Holy Ground! All of life is meant to be our “full time Christian service”. Every relationship, responsibility, and God-ordained activity is Holy Ground for the believer—a witness to the presence of Christ in a believer’s life. We Christians are recipients and beneficiaries of Abundant Life—NOW AND FOREVER!
Margaret L. Been, April 2014
Grace with Salt -- Biblical Reflections by Margaret L. Been 