The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1955-05-05

the lie .-JOhn 1870.
Everyone is concerned abou
life, especially his own life. w
want to prolong it as much a
| possible, and we want to full.
enjoy it.
In order to experience tha
| enjoyment, an Individual i
| prone to satisfy that longing il
way that God neveE intended
for him. He makes a constan
attempt to crafty the senses Of
physical appetites, or he strive!
| for social position and prestige
or he spends his time and energy
in accumulating material posses
sions. When rightly used, tht
senses, physical appetites, socia
contacts and material possession:
can be a real blessing, but wher
they become the master of the
individual and the motivating
force in his life, they are wrong
Man was created to have fel-
lowship with God. Mans choice
| to do that which was contrary
to Gods will became sin and mar
fell with a sinful nature. That
broke the fellowship which
existed between God and man
Because of that break man car
never enjoy life and be happy
Only when a man is willing to
confess his sin and repent, let
ting God have His way in his
life, will he be able to enjoy life
and be happy in the full sense
of the word. Our text tells us
that JESUS CHRIST is THE
LIFE.
In I John IL Jesus is referred
to as the Word Of sife. A word
is the spoken or written express
sion Of ones thoughts. Jesus was
the living expression of Gods
thoughts concerning man and
His love for man. Jesus express
ed Gods love for man in His
ministry and in His death on
the cross. Jesus showed man how
God wants him to live.
In John 1871 Jesus said, 81
am the true vine," and in Acts
3:15 He is referred to as "the
Author of life" So he is the
Source of life. He not only Great
ed us Genesis 1926; John 1:1-3;
Colossians 1:16) but in Him
we live, and move, have our
being" (Acts 1929. But much
more than that He is the source
Of spiritual life. Man in his
natural, sinful, state is spiritually
dead. He can only be given
spiritual life as he experiences
the new birth" This comes by
acknowledging Jesus Christ as
Lord and Saviour (I Peter 1928;
Titus 3:4-6).
In John 6:35 we read that
Jesus is the Sustainer of life.
He said, Il am the bread of life:
he that cometh to me shall
never hunger; and he that bell
eveth (trusteth) on me shall
never thirst" Here Jesus states
that He alone can really meet
mans greatest spiritual needs.
Though man may not under
stand the longing within him,
they are spiritual, Therefore
they cannot be satisfied with
material things. Spiritual hunger
and thirst must be satisfied in
a spiritual manner. Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, is the One who
alone can meet that need.
Life is not complete, nor can
it exist for too long, without
light. Light is necessary for
health, safety, for the enjoyment
of the beautiful and it also re-
veals the dust and the dirt so
that it may be cleaned up and
thrown away, In John IA and
8:12 Jesus is described as ''the
Light Of men" and "the Light
of the world" If man is to enjoy
spiritual health, if he is to steer
clear of that which is morally
and spiritually dangerous anc
destructive, if he is going tc
enjoy the best in life, and if he
is going to keep himself clean
he must let Jesus Christ live
in and through him.
| Finally, Jesus Christ is Eter.
nal life. Not only does He have
eternal life, but He is Eterna
life. 1t is that life which one
receives when he surrenders hi.
will to Christ. In III Peter IL
it is referred to as 'the divine
nature" 3" 1t is that life which i.
impaired to the Christian anc
which causes him to be alive K
God and which enables him Il
live according to Gods standards
Jesus Christ is the life. Fl,
wants to become your life. LIE
Him take over. Jesus said, "
am come that they might hav,
life, and that they might have i
more abundantly" (John 10:10)
But that life is only for the on,
who IS willing to receive Jesu
Christ (John 1886. 5:24).
Roy F.. Wikander