¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ¹¹He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

The word “life” refers to more than physical existence. Jesus, as creator, is responsible for life. There is more to life than what plants and animals experience. Human life also took on a strong spiritual quality. The spiritual domain relates mankind to God. Putting it very simply, life without the Spirit of God is empty. You can be spiritually dead to God, however being alive to God allows you to have His Spirit living in you. That is possible of course, by Jesus Christ and Him alone.

Oddly enough, in the debate over life, some pro-choice people argue about quality of life. If someone is deformed, handicapped, too old, has pain, or lost their mental capacity, the quality-of-life issues are used to excuse the deaths or lack of treatment for those who also have limited voice. Most folks agree that life is more than breathing and having a heartbeat. It has a real purpose. Since all life is from God, He therefore gives purpose to life. Likewise, the gift of life is in God's hands, not man's hands. God’s story is that He came to give life to all who believe in Him.

Vs 11 says “He came to his own but his own did not receive him.’’ It is still hard to imagine that people seek life outside of the giver of life. Jesus was rejected and by doing so spiritual life was rejected.

When I went to college, I learned that all cultures of mankind have a religion. Animals do not have a religion. We can communicate with God. We live beyond instincts. We have a value system as humans. We are motivated by more than just food, shelter, and procreation. Even though animals can have play, exercise and social activity there are tremendous limitations in their existence.

But mankind has a heart for the spiritual in every society despite what ACLU wants to teach us. The quest for meaning and a spiritual life is one of the strongest draws we have in our personal journey. The French mathematician/philosopher Blaise Pascal is quoted to say, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in our hearts that only He can fill.” He adds, “What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there, the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself.” [Pascal, Pensees #425]

Application: Spiritual life begins when we follow Christ. By confessing our sins, repenting of them and turning with faith in Jesus to save us, we embrace Him and receive His spirit. New life begins!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of life. Continue to move the Holy Spirit within us, help us to live our personal journey as an example to others as You guide the unbelievers into a spiritual life with you.

Dale