Life to the Full

Where are we going? What are we doing? Why are we here? “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). We spend our time here on earth eating and drinking and dealing with our life, because we must. This is our nature. We grow from a child to an adult. That’s the way it is. But for what purpose? We may strive to achieve great things and set our sights high for the future, hoping to find peace and contentment. The Bible calls this ‘chasing after the wind’ (Ecclesiastes 1:14).

We may have a goal or an ambition, but do we ever reach it? Yes, it’s possible, if we’re determined. But are we then satisfied? How many of us, having achieved our ambition, are truly content? There’s always a hunger for more. Are we struggling even to live? Where are we heading? Whoever we are or whatever our status we must have a purpose. Otherwise, we drift.

We might come into an inheritance. Then we can be set up comfortably for life. But here’s the warning: ‘The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil ... But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness’ (1 Timothy 6:10-11). We must beware, the enemy comes along and tries to take away what we have, by stealth, deception and lies. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).

Living life to the full, is this not what we all long for? How do we get there? How can it be achieved? We build towers in the sky, but satisfaction is denied. They’re not tall enough - they need to be higher and higher. We run out of building blocks. Where is our hope, our peace, and our joy?

Jesus is waiting and inviting us, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Our emptiness can only be filled by the Spirit of God Himself. Jesus said, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him ... for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16,17). Is this not what the world craves? The part of us that’s missing is Jesus, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God.

Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). He is here, knocking at the door. “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20). Can we hear it? - We can if we listen. It’s our choice. There is no middle way.