A Piece of Driftwood
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (NRSV)Actually the original Greek word that’s used there means “super-abundantly” – we just don’t have that word in the English language. A super-abundant life. That’s the promise. But what does that actually mean? What does it look like?
There comes a time in every person’s life when they feel all washed up. That’s it. God’s done with me. There’s nothing left for me to do. All those other people seem to have a fulfilling life, but I guess that’s passed me by. It’s over.
Have you ever seen a piece of driftwood washed up by the ocean? It looks like all the life’s bleached out of it. It looks … well, deader than dead. Surely it could never have a future.
I know so many people who look just like that and who probably feel like that too. It’s as though they’ve had all the life sucked out of them from being washed here and there, in this direction and that, by the currents of life.
And when you’re in that place, you feel all washed up, just like that lonely, bleached bit of driftwood. It’s as though there’s no hope for the future.
Speaking as someone who’s been there, who could never imagine that there was a life out there for me that might be worth living, I can tell you with absolute certainty, that there is hope. Jesus put it like this:
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (NRSV)
Actually the original Greek word that’s used there means “super-abundantly” – we just don’t have that word in the English language. A super-abundant life. That’s the promise. But what does that actually mean? What does it look like?
Well, it’s the complete opposite of that piece of drift wood. It’s a life of meaning and purpose. Sure, there are trials, there are setbacks, but Jesus came to give you a rich, vibrant, fulfilling life – a life I never thought would be possible.
But then, in Him all things are possible. Jesus.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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