By David Cook
In Him was life,
and the life was the Light of people.
The Light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:4-5 HSV
Life
Many seek for life in the pursuit of wealth, a relationship, an exotic vacation or a new car, new home or a new outfit.
Where is life found?
In money? In people? In places? In things?
Will a new relationship in and of itself give you lasting fulfillment? How about an exotic vacation to the Isle of Mykonos in Greece? Perhaps a new 2017 Bugatti Chiron could aid in your search for significance. Surely an oceanfront house in West Maui, Hawaii would give the fulfillment in life that you’re looking for.
Yet Yeshua taught us, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”[1] Yet so many of us spend so much time in the pursuit of the of possessions, thinking this will give the fulfillment and significance we desire.
Life is in Yeshua.
In Him is life and Yeshua is Himself the Light of the world. he gives true light and insight to people. Yeshua raised this question; “what will it profit a man if he would gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? What should a man give in exchange for his soul?” [2]
Have you sold your soul to materialism, the empty pursuit of possessions that will ultimately fade away?
The people who were in the dark did not comprehend the light when He came into the world. They didn’t get it. Yeshua is the light of the world. He came into the world to give life, and to give it more abundantly. He gives life and real liberty.
Yeshua said;
I came that they may have life,
and have it abundantly.
John 10:10 NASB
It’s time to come out of the shadows and step into the light!
Life is in Yeshua, in Yeshua is abundant and eternal life.
If you want to be in with the eternal in crowd, get in with Yeshua, He’s got the answers to life. If you hear His voice calling you today open your heart and believe and receive all He has to give you!
Liberty
Now the Lord is the Spirit,
and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17 NASB
Liberty or freedom is found in the Spirit of the Lord. Not liberty to do evil but the liberty (and power) to do righteousness. Yeshua gives liberty from sin, not liberty to sin.
Some may hear of the love and grace of God and may want to continue in a life seeking the temporal pleasures of sin. Does God desire His children to continue in sin in order for His people to see the extent of His grace? No, definitely not. God’s desire is for us to be holy as He is holy. Should we use our liberty to sin? To think that sin brings freedom or liberty is faulty thinking. This is a complete misnomer. Sin is slavery. Sin brings forth slavery and death. Sin brings death to relationships and eventually physical death and if you are without faith in Messiah Yeshua then ultimately results in eternal death. Sin doesn’t bring life nor liberty.
Thankfully, God made Yeshua who knew no sin to take all of our sin on Himself on the cross, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Messiah.
The apostle Peter wrote; Live as free people. Don’t use your freedom as a covering for evil, but live as slaves of God. 1 Peter 2:16 HSV
The apostle Paul wrote; For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only don’t use your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14 HSV
Paul wrote to believers in Yeshua; But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Now If we live by Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Galations 5:16-25 NASB
Some look for life in the spirits, that is to be inebriated by alcoholic beverages. Getting drunk with alcohol is a waste of time and money, that sometimes leads to significant problems. Getting wasted is a waste of your life. By what Spirit do we need to find life? We need to be born of the Spirit and live by the Spirit. Live by the power of the Holy Spirit, by the Spirit of the Lord.
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. Ephesians 5:15-21 NASB
When we are filled with the Holy Spirit then we live a life filled with righteousness, joy and peace in the Spirit of holiness. We can experience the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. If you have been born of the Spirit and live by the Spirit, then let us continue on and walk by the Spirit.[3]
The Pursuit of Yeshua
The Pursuit of Yeshua is to fall in love with Him. You find that if you are pursuing Yeshua that He has been pursuing you.
We Love, because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19 NASB
God and His Son Yeshua loved us first. God loved the people of the world so much that He sent His Son Yeshua and anyone who believes in Him will receive eternal life! Yeshua willingly laid down His own life as a payment for our sins. He was crucified on a cross and then on the third day He rose again! [4]
“We know love by this,
that He laid down His life for us”
1 John 3: 16 NASB
The apostle John wrote to believers in Yeshua;
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. 1 John 4:7-21 NASB
Life is found by knowing and loving the true and living God and His Son Yeshua. Yeshua asks that you love your neighbor as you love yourself, when you do; you too will be blessed. This is vertizontal living, to love God with your all and love all the people that He made.
“I am the Light of the world;
he who follows Me
will not walk in the darkness,
but will have the Light of life.”
–Yeshua
John 8:12 NASB
[1] The empty pursuit of pursuit of possessions, Luke 12:15 NASB
[2] Gain the whole world and lose your soul, Matthew 16:26 HSV
[3] See John 3:1-16, Ephesians 5:18, Romans 1:4, Galatians 5:22-23.
[4] Yeshua died and rose from the dead, 1 Corinthians 15:1-3.
[5] Photos of Newly wed couple, Isle of Mykonos in Greece, 2017 Bugatti Chiron, oceanfront house in West Maui.
[6] Scripture Art, Chalkboard 1 John 4:19 by To Such As These Designs [7] King of Hearts from Randy Stonehill, Welcome to Paradise Album, http://www.RandyStonehill.com [8] “Fall In Love With Me”, “Out of the Shadow”, “Still Hear You Calling” and “I Will Follow You” by Paul Clark from his album, When the Moon is Behind the Clouds.
