Abundant Life or Vicarious Life?

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:10 (NIV)

Jesus came to give us life, abundant life.  Life, that is, as God intended for us.  Yet, sadly, many of us have settled for a cheap imitation.

I recall, while going through some counseling at one point, the counselor asking a series of questions.  As I began to respond, he would follow up with an interesting question.  "So, what does that look like?"  This kind of caught me off guard.  It made me stop and think for a few minutes.

Often we read passages of Scripture, without ever really stopping to think, "what does that look like in my life?"  When Jesus says that He's come to give you "abundant life" or "life to the full" what does that mean to you?  Have you really stopped to think about it?  Or, perhaps, you may ask, "what is it supposed to look like to me?"

I've been meditating on this one for a while.  But, of course, God deals with each of us individually.  I may read a passage of Scripture and receive certain insight, revelation or understanding, whereas God may show you something totally different.  At any rate, I'd like to take a few minutes and share something the Lord put in my spirit regarding this passage of Scripture recently.

One of our senior pastors recently made a statement that cut me, and cut me deep.  He asked a question, basically to the effect, "why do so many of us have Blockbuster cards, but not a library card?"  We have chosen entertainment over education.  I was greatly convicted by this.

But, to take this a step further, how many of us have chosen entertainment over experience?  We sit for hours watching television and movies, playing video games or surfing the internet.  What happened to us getting out and living life?  Many us opt to travel to distant lands, far away galaxies; get transported to the future or taken back to pre-historic times; explore mysteries and solve crimes, all while never leaving the comforts of our home.  We have traded personal interaction for a digital world.

I think of movies like Surrogates and Inception along with many of the fantasy video games now available.  One my children love is SIMS.  Then, of course, there are the countless online fantasy worlds.  Just create an avatar and become anyone you can imagine.

There have been times when I've spent practically the whole day just watching movies.  And as the movie credits begin to scroll across the screen, I am quickly sobered to the reality of the mundane life I briefly sought to escape.  The adventure is over, at least until the next showing.

But, is this really the life Jesus came that we might have?  I venture to say no!  God is a god of relationship, first and foremost.  Secondly, as a part of the great commission, Jesus told us to go into all the world.  He desires us to experience His life flowing through us, as we step out to reach a lost and dying world that needs to know Him.

I am greatly inspired as I read so many of the stories of the Bible.  Perhaps "accounts" is a better word to use,  because I believe they are more than just stories.  I believe they are actual accounts of encounters that various individuals had with God, as He revealed Himself, in and through their lives.  I believe He also wants to do the same thing in your life and mine.

As Moses and the children of Israel saw God part the Red Sea; as God gave David victory over a giant named Goliath; as Peter stepped out of a boat and walked on water with Jesus, so I believe God has great things that He wants to do in and through our lives.  But the question remains, will we choose abundant life or continue to settle for living life vicariously?