Jesus rose from the grave. And made life something to go for!
Before Jesus came to this world, people thought that there were only two ways of leading a “good” life. Either you had to have power, like the Romans had. Or you had to keep strictly to the religious laws, as the Jewish leaders of the time prescribed.
Then Jesus came. And he popularised the act of living! He made life accessible to everybody.
Because of Jesus, every single one of us can live a good life when we live closely to God.
There were times in the history of Israel when they enjoyed life to the full in the presence of God. We read about it in Psalm 16. Here David sings an Ode to Life! He tells us what it is like to walk with God – God who has entered into a covenant with us.
Firstly, it means that God has declared himself loyal to us. We can trust him. He will protect us.
Secondly, God gives us a good life. It is a life of spiritual bliss. Nobody or nothing else can offer us this type of life. It is a life of being more than a body, of forgiving and reaching out to other people – and to life itself!
Thirdly, life with God is a life of care. God cares for us, and he does so beautifully. He cares for us so much that he has made us heirs to life!
Fourthly, life with God is a life of wisdom. God makes us wise. He gives us insight.
In the fifth place, life with God means never to be alone. God does not even forsake you in the grave. He gives you life forever.
And God proved it all in Jesus Christ. By raising Jesus from the grave, God has again shown that he is the God of life.
Your body may be affected by HIV and AIDS. However, your life remains intact. You can live life to its fullest. You will never be alone, or without hope. You never have to live without beauty. That is God’s will for you.
Life is a gift from God. Yes, life is God-given. Nobody can take it away from you. It is there for you to take.
To think about (or discuss): What does “living closely to God” means to you?
Written by Christina Landman