“The thief comes only to kill steal and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John10:10, NIV
If you had the chance to drive a Ferrari Enzo on the German Autobahn would you take it? This vehicle has a top speed of 217 mph and can break an Indiana 55 mph speed limit in less than 3.4 seconds. According to Thesupercars.org, this car will set you back $670,000, since only 399 cars have ever been produced, and “the price goes up every time someone crashes.” If your answer to my question is a resounding YES, keep reading. If your answer is a cautious no don’t worry, I still love you.
It seems to me that most people tend to focus on the first half of Jesus’ words in John 10:10 that the thief (Satan) is trying to kill, steal and destroy us. I am definitely a “glass is half full” kind of guy, so I acknowledge Jesus’ strong warning, but I usually focus on the second half of this verse. Jesus said that He came so that we could have life, and have it to the full. The Greek word for “full” in this verse is perissos which means “exceeding, going beyond, full, abundant, more than.” What is the “full” life that Jesus wants for you and me? Does He want us to hide and play it safe, because our enemy is watching and waiting? Do our lives feel full, or are we usually running on empty?
I know that life is hard. I don’t think that I have to convince you that the thief is alive and active in this fallen world. In 1 John 3:4 the Scriptures tell us not to worry about the spirit of the antichrist in the world. The Word of God says; “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them (antichrists), because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” If believers are indwelt with the Holy Spirit, should they live a life of restraint and fear?
I started this discussion with a question that many of you have probably already entertained. As exhilarating as it would be to see what a Ferrari Enzo would do on the Autobahn, this experience pales in comparison to the full life that Jesus wants for every believer. Henry Blackaby says in Experiencing God that God is always at work around us, and that you come to know God by experience as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work through you. I know that the biggest rushes that I have experienced in life have been when I joined God in His work, and realized that God was glorifying Himself through me.
No amount of money, fame, drug or alcohol induced high even comes close to the experience of walking closely with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I wonder if the reason that believers either do not experience this truth, or forget it sometimes, is that we live out our faith like there are speed limits. God does say stop sometimes, but when He says go there are no speed limits with God. Sometimes putting the pedal down with Jesus is the only way to really live and experience the full life that Christ promised. The wonderful thing about living life in the fast lane with Jesus is that when we crash, and we will crash, Jesus is standing by to pick us up. If we are racing for Him (or even if we forget that we are racing for Him), He will cleanse us with His blood, and put us back in the race again. So what do you say, are we ready to open it up and see what God can do?
Manna and Coffee 