Fear No Fear

““Thieves enter only to take away life, to steal what is not theirs, and to bring to ruin all they cannot have. I have come to give the good life, a life that overflows with beauty and harmony” (John 10:10, FNVNT). Living the good life. It’s what we’re all trained in the West to want. Right from the beginning. Advertising is geared toward it. Education is designed to make you want it – why else work so hard? Employment capitalizes on it. And don’t forget the financial system. They LOVE the idea of the good life. Especially when they get to add fees for you to achieve it. The good life WE promote has lots of stuff, lots of money to do things, lots of vacation-style living, and very little hard work. It’s a reward. It’s a goal so that we can kick back and relax. We did our part. Now we get to party. But that worldview is not what Jesus was promoting. Not at all. HIS idea of the good life is one overflowing with beauty and harmony. The beauty of GOOD THINGS – from God’s point of view. And harmony with God – because that is what life is supposed to be in the first place (John 17:3). This is what the devil came to do. This is why he conscripted the snake, deceived Eve, and attacked Adam from the side. This is why he kept his mouth shut when they handed him their authority. This is why he has always hated God-reverencing people. This is why he attacks us. Yes, to kill. Yes, to destroy. Those are byproducts of his real goal: ruining humanity’s relationship with God. As long as you’re not looking to God, talking to God, and receiving from God then his work is done. He is seeking the ruin of our communication, our communion, with God. Which is why Jesus came. Jesus came to BE our communion. So that we would have a covenant to enter into. So that we could be reconciled to God. So that we could be in the Light. Perceive His beauty and the glory of God manifested in creation. So that we could enjoy and experience the GOOD THINGS God made for us. So that we could have harmony with God. Loving devotion, one to the other. Hand in hand. Father to child and bride to groom. That’s the life Jesus brings. That’s the life God designed. A loving relationship. Nothing missing. Nothing broken. Nothing stolen. And FULL of LOVE.