July 11, 2023 – Reflection on “The Word!”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

          In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5.

         The Lord God creates for His purpose.  Genesis begins—In the beginning. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:1-3. In each creation, God gives His breath of life.

         Not until God created a place for men to dwell, does God create man. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female, He created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:27-28.

         God gave man purpose, to name all that God created—animals, sea life, and growing things on land and be a gardener. He created the Tree of Good and Evil in the center of the Garden of Eden. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17.

         God gave Man the ability to think, ask questions, and make decisions. Although God stipulated that Adam and Eve could eat of any tree in the garden, when tempted by Satan with the words, “You shall not surely die!” They wanted to be like God and ate from the Tree. They tried to hide from God, but they didn’t understand that no man can hide from God. Adam & Eve were sent from the Garden of Eden. Sin entered their hearts through their disobedience to God.

         “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near!” Isaiah 55:6. And Jesus taught, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”  Matthew 6:33-34.

            God designed humans uniquely for spiritual life. We were created to have fellowship with Him. Without faith in God, our life is empty and meaningless. When Jesus came to earth, His purpose is this: I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10b. When we are baptized in the name of Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit, we are born again, with a new life filled with spiritual blessings and communion with God!

         God offers us a choice: faithful obedience and the promise of eternal life and communion with Him, or unfaithfulness and disobedience which leads to a broken fellowship with God and an eternal separation from God.

            But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, by grace you have been saved and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7.

        The definition of LIFE for a Christian is Jesus Christ. Eternal life in fellowship with God through a relationship with Jesus Christ is the definition of true life. The apostle John writes, “And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life”. I John 5:11-12.

        For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10.

         And this is the testimony that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  1 John 5:11-14.

        Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9.

     God created us and gave us breath of life, to live a short while on earth. He gives us a way through Jesus to have life eternal, where Love, Joy, and Peace reign, and the world has no control over us. This verse gives us a beginning way to live for Him. So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31. And we sing: My Hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.