I have come to the pinnacle of success in business.
In the eyes of others, my life has been the symbol of success.
However, apart from work, I have little joy. Finally, my wealth is simply a fact to which I am accustomed.
At this time, lying on the hospital bed and remembering all my life, I realize that all the accolades and riches of which I was once so proud, have become insignificant with my imminent death.
In the dark, when I look at green lights, of the equipment for artificial respiration and feel the buzz of their mechanical sounds, I can feel the breath of my approaching death looming over me.
Only now do I understand that once you accumulate enough money for the rest of your life, you have to pursue objectives that are not related to wealth.
It should be something more important:
For example, stories of love, art, dreams of my childhood.
No, stop pursuing wealth, it can only make a person into a twisted being, just like me.
God has made us one way, we can feel the love in the heart of each of us, and not illusions built by fame or money, like I made in my life, I cannot take them with me.
I can only take with me the memories that were strengthened by love.
This is the true wealth that will follow you; will accompany you, he will give strength and light to go ahead.
Love can travel thousands of miles and so life has no limits. Move to where you want to go. Strive to reach the goals you want to achieve. Everything is in your heart and in your hands.
What is the world's most expensive bed? The hospital bed.
You, if you have money, you can hire someone to drive your car, but you cannot hire someone to take your illness that is killing you.
Material things lost can be found. But one thing you can never find when you lose: life.
Whatever stage of life where we are right now, at the end we will have to face the day when the curtain falls.
Please treasure your family love, love for your spouse, love for your friends...
Treat everyone well and stay friendly with your neighbours." (taken from a Facebook update)
You just finished reading the final words of one of the most successful men who ever lived - Steve Jobs - the co-founder of Apple Computers and the revolutionary products such as the Macbook Air, IPod, and IPhone.
Yet, surprisingly, what did you find in his final words?
Apart from work, he experienced little joy...his wealth was simply a fact of which he became accustomed ... and all of the accolades and riches became insignificant in the face of imminent death.
His final message to mankind was - "Stop pursuing wealth, it can only make a person into a twisted being, just like me..Money cannot take away the illness that is killing you...Material things lost can be found. But one thing you can never find when you lose: LIFE."
Steve Jobs had it all - as far as this world was concerned. But he was lacking one thing that this world could never offer him - and that is, eternal life - which is only found through a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. If only he had "eternal life" in Jesus - the "life" that even "death" itself cannot steal, kill, or destroy.
With that in mind, allow me to ask you the thought-provoking question - Why did Jesus come?
The Scriptures offer many answers to that question. However, for the purpose of this message, we want to examine what some scholars call - "The Grand Purpose of Christ's Advent."
Jesus told us in John 10:10 - "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
Did you catch what the Lord said here?
"...I am come that they might have life..."
But He didn't stop there. He went on to say - "...and that they might have it more abundantly."
Jesus came to impart life and communicate it in rich and unfailing exuberance. The gift of life that He imparted was not a power, nor a principle, but His very own Person dwelling in us. This gift of life is abundant - not only in its fullness - but in its continuance.
"...I am come that they might have life..."
This was the echo of all His teaching. In fact, one design of the Gospel is to intensify human life through every region of it. It is not to stifle, impair, or enfeeble a man's life-powers - but to exalt them. It is to add a fresh region and a new department to every being - to give new thoughts, quicken new emotions, beget new motives, and set forth new ambitions.
This new life that Jesus offers is a fuller, deeper one - giving birth to thoughts more grave and feelings more deep. It is - "life more abundant " - that which can never be exhausted and includes an abundance of supply beyond the immediate possibility of use, the energies of which may always exceed our duties, and the range of which has no limit. This "life" has the future in its arms... propagates new life...and has untold capacities about it - beauty, fragrance, strength, growth, variety, reproduction, resistance to death, continuity, and eternity.
Read what the Great Texts of the Bible had to say about this matter - "Can you tell me in a word the subject of the New Testament? Or, can you explain, just as briefly, the object with which Christ came into the world?...But never more fully or completely did our Lord express the whole purpose of His mission than in these words of the text- 'I came that they may have life.' "
The Great Texts also had this to say - "...it was then that a new revelation burst upon the world, heralded by the angels who appeared in the heavens on that Christmas Eve; God came to make life a richer blessing, a truer happiness, to make possible that life which alone can be called life. He came in His incarnation, with His glorious proclamation, to which the suffering world clings with eager tenacity, 'I came that they might have life.' Man may now claim something more than existence, something more even than a conscious contribution to the great widening out of the ages; he can claim life in its highest form, supernatural life, by the power and the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. Supernatural life, what is this? A life which is above nature, above its aches and pains, its failures, its disappointments, above death itself. 'I came that they may have life.''"
This is why Jesus came! To "make life a richer blessing, a truer happiness, to make possible that life which alone can be called life." And because He came - "Man may now claim something more than existence, something more even than a conscious contribution to the great widening out of the ages; he can claim life in its highest form, supernatural life...A life which is above nature, above its aches and pains, its failures, its disappointments, above death itself."
The Biblical Illustrator said this - "Nothing is so precious as life. It was forfeited by sin; but Christ restored it at the expense of His own (John 10:11). And it is to be had now. The young are eager to 'see' and 'enjoy life.' And they are right if they will not look for it in the wrong way. In Christ is the way to gain it, not in the low average of worldly attainment, but 'more abundantly' in all that makes life worth living."
Jesus "came that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly."
However, in reading John 10:10, you must not overlook the fact that Jesus was not the only one Who came. The "thief" came also - "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
There is one who is "after" that "life" - either hoping that you never "make the connection" with Jesus in order to obtain it, or that when you do gain it, it is stolen from you or even destroyed.
You recognize that the devil is the greatest "thief." But are you aware of the fact that the "world" is also a "thief"?
The "world" and Jesus are total opposites. The "world" cries - "Give me," while Jesus cries - "I give you." The "world" is selfish, while Jesus is unselfish. The princes of this world exercise lordship , but Jesus came among us as One Who serves. The "world" says and practices - "It is more blessed to receive than to give," whereas Jesus says - "It is more blessed to give than to receive." The "world" takes from your "life." Jesus gives to your "life." You lose when you begin to follow the "world," but you gain the moment you begin to follow Jesus.
Why did Jesus come?
He "came that you might have life- "...a life which is above nature, above its aches and pains, its failures, its disappointments, above death itself."
Do you have that "life" today?
Have you opened your Christmas present from God yet?
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved