Max Lucado - Need Life?
Summary:
The preacher explores Jesus' promise of eternal life in John 3:16, emphasizing that it is not merely endless existence but zoe—God’s intensive, vital, fulfilling life that reconnects our souls to Him. Drawing from Genesis 2:7, the Fall, and verses like Ephesians 2:1 and 1 John 5:1, he contrasts the spiritual death caused by sin with the rebirth offered through faith in Christ. The hopeful conclusion is that believing in Jesus restores the intimate, unashamed relationship with God that Adam and Eve lost, breathing true life into our spiritually flatlined souls.
God Bless You Today
God bless you today. God bless you. Beginning on Friday, August the 15th, my team and I are going to take a little break. Not going anywhere; we’ll be back on September 1st. Not leaving, just resting, just resting. You know, we’ve been working our way through John 3:16.
The Gift of Eternal Life
In it, Jesus promises to grant us a wonderful gift, and that is eternal life—eternal life, a graveless, tearless kingdom of life. Does such a life appeal to you? If you have seven minutes, I think we can unpack this offer of Jesus. If not, for crying out loud, who am I to say you should stay?
If Only Dreams
But let us know how to pray for you, please, before you leave. Have you ever noticed how «if only» dreams lurk in every biography? If only I could find a mate. If only I had more money. If only I had a bright red '65 Mustang. The only barrier between you and happiness is «if only, » and sometimes you cross it.
Life’s Letdowns
Sometimes you find the mate, sometimes you find the money, sometimes you find the Mustang; sometimes it just works out. Many times, it doesn’t. You know, life has its share of letdowns. And how do you know Christ won’t be one of them? I mean, honestly, how do you know?
Jesus Offers True Life
Dare you believe that he can give what he promises to give, and that is life—life! Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Yes, we are pulling into this final station of the 316 train. We’ve worked our way through the itinerary, and the final word of the verse invites us to ponder one more gift, and that is life.
Zoe vs Bios
Now, beer companies offer you life in their hopes; perfume makers promise new life for your romance. But let’s not confuse costume jewelry with God’s sapphire. Jesus offers zoe (Z-O-E), the Greek word for life as God has it, whereas bios (B-I-O-S), its sibling term, is life extensive. Zoe is life intensive.
Life’s Quality and Vitality
Jesus talks less about life’s duration and more about its quality, its vitality, its energy, its fulfillment. What the new mate, what the new sports car, what the unexpected bonus could really never do—Christ says, «I can do that! I can do that! I can give you life!» And you’ll love how he achieves it.
Reconnecting Your Soul
It’s an action in which he reconnects your soul to God. You see, what God gave to Adam and Eve, he gave to you and me, and that is a soul—a soul. Do you remember in Genesis 2:7 the Lord God formed the man out of the dust of the ground, and he breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being?
The Breath of God
You are not a bipedal ape, you are not a chemical fluke, you are not an atomic surprise. No, you bear the very breath of God; he exhaled himself into you, making you a living being. Now, this Hebrew word translated as «being» (N-E-P-H-E-S-H) appears in Scripture 750 times.
Your Soul Distinguishes You
It sometimes refers to the life force present in all creatures, but in the context of a person, nephesh refers to our souls. Your soul distinguishes you from zoo dwellers. Yeah, God loves zoo dwellers. God gifted the camel with a hump and the giraffe with a flagpole neck.
Reserved for You
But, friend, he reserved his life, his breath, his nephesh for you. He gave you breath; you bear his stamp. Consequently, you do things God does. You think, you question, you reflect. You blueprint buildings; you chart sea crossings. You swallow throat lumps when your kids say their ABCs.
Disobedience and Death
You, like Adam, have a soul. And like Adam, you’ve used your soul to disobey God. God’s singular command to the charter couple, Adam and Eve, includes the Bible’s first reference to death: God said, «You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it, you will surely die.»
Why the Tree?
That’s down the chapter a bit—in verse 16. I recall my daughter Andrea, when she was elementary school age, asked a very grown-up question. She said, «Dad, if God didn’t want them to eat from the tree, why did he put it there?» Well, the answer, best I can tell, is to remind us who created whom.
Two Deaths
You see, when we attempt to swap roles with God and tell him we can eat, think, say, do, control, own, hurt, inhale, ingest, and demand anything we want, we die two deaths. Adam and Eve did. They died physically eventually, and they died spiritually instantly.
Spiritual Death
Reread God’s warning: «When you eat of it, you will surely die.» You see, sin resulted in Adam and Eve’s immediate death, but death of what? Death of their bodies? No, no! They continued to breathe; brain waves flowed; eyelids blinked; their bodies functioned. But their hearts hardened.
Friendship Died
They stopped trusting God; their friendship with their Maker died. We understand how this happened, right? If you loan me your bright red '65 Mustang and I wreck it, will I want to see you again? No! I will dread our next encounter. Adam and Eve experienced the very same.
Everything Changed
Prior to this act, you’ll recall they followed God like sheep follow their shepherd. They walked in the cool of the evening; he would speak and they would listen. He gave assignments, and they enthusiastically fulfilled them. They were naked but unashamed; they were transparent and not embarrassed.
Separation Began
Yet just as one drop of ink clouds a glass of water, that stubborn deed darkened their souls. And everything changed—everything—just like that! God’s presence stirred panic, not peace. They ran like kids caught raiding the pantry. «I was afraid, » they told God. Intimacy with God ceased, and separation from God began.
Banished from Eden
I guess we’ll always wonder why Adam didn’t ask for forgiveness, but he didn’t; they didn’t. And the guilty pair was banished from the Garden of Eden. We’ve loitered outside the gates ever since—ever since. But Jesus steps forth with a reconnection invitation.
Reborn Through Belief
Though we be, according to the Scripture, dead in our transgressions and sins (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from the life of God (Ephesians 4:18), whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (1 John 5:1). Reborn—that’s it! It’s not a physical birth resulting from a human passion or plan.
Restored to Eden Status
This is a rebirth, a spiritual birth that comes from God. Comes from God! Please don’t miss the invisible inward miracle triggered by belief. Here it is: God reinstates us to Garden of Eden’s status. What Adam and Eve did, we now do. The maiden family walked with God; we can too.
No More Hiding
They heard his voice; so can we. They were naked and unashamed; we can be transparent and unafraid. No more running from God or hiding from God. He breathes life into flatlined lives. Maybe that’s what you’re searching for. Maybe that’s what you’re searching for.
Ask Him for Life
If so, just ask him. Ask him, and he’ll promise to bring you a life that no one can take away. God bless you.