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. It is the essence of Christianity to have life and to have it more abundantly. This abundant life that the Bible speaks of does not merely comprise of the physical life. For life itself is composed of three primary parts, the physical, the mental and the spiritual. It can therefore be concluded that in order for one to have “abundant life”, that life must be full physically, mentally and spiritually. It is only natural for one to ask, “How can I obtain this “abundant life”? We are so pleased to know that while the Scriptures tells us of God’s ideal, it also sheds light on how we can reach this ideal. The first thing we need to understand is that we have an enemy whose goal it is to steal, kill and destroy. Once we can identify this enemy and how he works, we would have already found the key to not succumb to any of his attacks. We must understand the heart of the matter… the great controversy over the life of every one of God’s creatures. The enemy is seeking to take our life, while it is the prayer of Jesus that we will not allow him to do so and that we might keep our life. The sad reality is that we have come to a time where the things that God has given us to produce life, the majority of Christendom looks at as doubtful, ludicrous and even objectionable. So where can we find this “abundant life” that’s promised? We are told if any any man lack wisdom, let him ask of the Father who giveth liberally (James 1:5). God has shown us His ideal right where human life began– in Eden. The Edenic life is one that produced abundant life. What were the conditions that our heavenly Father put in place for the holy pair? The first two chapters of Genesis gives us a brief, yet comprehensive account of what it takes to have abundant life. One of the initial things we find is that man was created after every other thing. Therefore, God placed man in an environment that was complete. He provided the light man would need, the waters, the greenery, the creatures, etc. Everything was in place just lying in wait for its caretaker. Next, God instituted the home life and marriage union. He had also given instruction as it relates to the work in which man was to carry out– the tilling of the soil. God intended that man should ever be learning, ever be growing, ever be producing. He also gave to man that which He desired for them to subsist on. Here we find in Genesis 1:29 & 3:18 this ideal food program that generates the best results in the maintaining and development of man. Fruits, nuts, grains and vegetables constituted the original diet chosen by the Creator and we find that in this diet alone does man truly thrive. For since man was made up from the dust of the ground, only those foods which themselves come from the earth are the best for man’s use. Next we find the Creator’s plan in regards to the actual home environment that is best suited for man. We find that Adam and Eve were not place in the midst of a crowded city, but a beautiful, living garden amidst nature and nature’s God. God wanted to be very close to His creation and His nearness can best be felt and known amongst the pleasantries of nature. God also instilled in man the principles of life, that he should be temperate in all things and that he should find time for communion with his Maker. Temperance in eating and drinking, working and playing. Thus we are given the principles to sustain and maintain life. If we would but cooperate with our Creator, He promises to give us of this abundant life. The way in which we cooperate with Him is in obedience to the laws of life He has laid out. These laws are intended to preserve the life given us. These laws were given from the beginning, in fact we find them in the first two chapters of Genesis.
We can learn the laws of life using the acronym GODSPLAN:
G – Godly Trust O – Open Air D – Daily Exercise S – Sunlight P – Proper Rest L – Lots of Water A – Always Temperate N – Nutrition These are heaven’s appointed agencies in the prevention and treatment of disease and to have abundant life. Friends, are you willing to work with Jesus as He seeks to impart unto you this abundant life? Remember the devil wants to steal life but God wants to give us not just life but life more abundantly. Deut 30:19 -I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.
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