by Bert Warden
Living life to the full means different things to different people.
The rich man in Luke 16 summed up his aspirations thus: “I have much goods stored up for many years. I will say to my soul, ‘eat, drink and be merry’” but God called him a fool because his death was imminent.
There are two Biblical metaphors from the book of 1 John that encapsulate what we are looking for: “God is Light” (1 John 1:5) and “God is Love” (1 John 4:8). By the way, as with all metaphors, they cannot be read in reverse.
Their main lessons are that without God’s light human life is impossible and that without God’s love human life is unbearable.
“God is light:” Light is the essential ingredient for life. Without light no life is possible, so God’s first command in creation was, “Let there be light!” If the sun were summarily extinguished, every living thing on earth would perish – no light plus no heat equals no life.
In God there is neither physical nor moral darkness because God’s light reveals His holy laws and humanity’s fatal flaws as well as the way for us to find forgiveness and salvation. Our number one problem, as the Bible states it, is “men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:18)
As Christian believers we are to “walk in the light.” Relationally that means walking in obedience, purity, holiness, guilelessness, truth, openness, with a clear conscience, nothing to hide.
“If we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
“God is love:” True love is subjective, relational, personal – an attitude, an inner bent. At its purest it is an utmost regard for someone bringing forth attitudes and actions for that person’s well-being regardless of the self-sacrifice it may entail.
“God is light” and “God is love,” two simple yet profound metaphors of God. Every one of us can enter into the fullness of their meaning if we will, and live life to the full here and now and for eternity. God has opened the way for us, now it’s our move!
Bert Warden is a former missionary and retired Christian and Missionary Alliance pastor. He is a member of Sevenoaks Alliance Church.