Yesterday morning I began preaching through 1 John. I could not help note that in the first two verses John mentioned “life” three times. In v.1 he tells his readers that he was a personal witness having heard, seen, and touched the “Word of Life.” The sense here is likely the “Word which is Life.” This seems best given the fact that when John picks up his thought in v. 2, he highlights “Life.” He goes on in v. 2 to mention life twice, writing that the Life was manifested and that he is “eternal life.” These are comforting words in a sin filled world. Yet given what many believers are reading today, one wonders just how mindful we are of the very best of life, eternal life. Two popular books today are written by a husband and wife pastoral team. What are the titles of these books? One is, “Your Best Life Now,” and the other, “Love Your Life.”

Believers have lived for 2000 years with the hope that life, the very best of life, was eternal. This world has nothing to offer us and nothing of this life can compare with life in his presence. It will be lived out in the very presence of God, unhindered by these sinful bodies.

The believer has also lived their life with the words of Christ ringing in their ear that they are not to love their life. On the contrary, he said, “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal” (John 12:25).

So I reject the premise of both books and look forward to my best life later and I will spend my days trying to hate this life and all its trappings. It is a struggle, but it will be worth it all; later.

Categories: Christ, Christian living