One of the things that Jesus is always doing is to show people where true life occurs and how to live there. In the discussion of His leadership versus the adversary’s in John 10, He tells us that He came to give us true life without limits. His inviting and enabling to live that life is what He is doing even now so let’s explore what that looks like and to see if that’s where we live?
When we are born the first time we “live” in a body that “lives” in a physical world. Everything we do is arranged around trying to make the best of this existence. Jesus expressed it as constantly giving attention to “what will we eat?” and “what will we put on?” etc. Here we are living in a physical world inhabited by others who are likewise seeking the same things which leads to a mixture of working together, and of competing, depending on the situation.
Besides living in that place, as people grow they become aware, to a greater or lesser extent depending on the person, that they have an inner existence as well. This place is where they think and feel and create and decide beyond sheer impulse. Here we exercise free will and free won’t, decide on and create what’s of real value to us, grow as people in our knowledge and skills, and so forth. In this place that we “live” we are free to look at life however we wish no matter what the realities of the physical world we are concurrently living in are, at any given moment.
Gobs and gobs of time, money, content and guru advice are spent trying to help people “live” best and work in these places, hopefully to bring congruence between them for a healthy and prosperous life. This is where people “live” from birth to death trying their best to make it as good and meaningful as they can depending on what they’ve been told about this.
There are many “voices” trying to tell us where and how to live but what would make any of them the best one to listen to?
For me, the only Voice qualified to tell us what’s best, is the one who is limitless love and transcendent truth all in One. Instead of voices that have only been around for a short time or the voice of the opposer, wouldn’t it be helpful to hear from the one who is from eternity, knows everything, and wants only the best for everyone who wants it. His name is Jesus, who dwells in the oneness of community with His Papa and His Spirit that He freely makes available to all who desire Him, and He is not about offering a religion but reality.
So what does Jesus say about reality and where to live one’s life from/ in?
Jesus constantly spoke about and demonstrated a realm that is beyond the physical external realm and the internal realm that breaks in and totally changes how we experience them while we are in these bodies. As stated before, the invitation to live in this ultimate place of life is what Jesus Himself said was His reason for coming to us in a human body. This invitation to be born into, and live in, the eternal realm, the kingdom of heaven, right now in the present, is what changes everything. No longer do we need to be subject to only living in the external world and the internal world that constantly change and never last. Now there’s an eternal place we can live from, with the Eternal One, that transforms our external and our internal existence right now.
Imagine our work and our relationships and emotions etc. now taking on a whole new joy and meaning beyond our limited capabilities only?
In subsequent posts we will explore further how it’s possible to live in that place and to experience it fully in this life. For now, I would invite you to read what Jesus tells a religious leader called Nicodemus in John 3. This story about a confused but inquiring know-it-all, that becomes transformed into a joyful have-it-all, is truly inspiring.
Until then though, may we all continually come to Jesus with an inquiring heart to show us the way to fully experience His “life to the full”.