Real Life

What does it mean to have real life?  For some people, real life is defined by how many possessions they have.  Others define life by the size of their financial portfolio.  Still others use their success and status as the determination of real life.  However, each funeral is a testament to the futility of using any of these things as a way of defining real life.
 
Jesus tells us what real life is.  Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)  Real life is abundant life.  Abundant life has Jesus at its core.  This is real life.  So, how does real life differ from what most people seem to experience?
 
First, real life lives well.  The motto of Freed-Hardeman University is, “Teaching how to live and how to make a living.”  Real life is so much more than making a living.  There are many who make a good living but never get around to living.
The Bible records in II Peter 1:3 that God has provided to us “…all things pertaining to life…”  One might possess all that is needed to be called a success and yet be a failure in the end by not having what the Bible offers to have life.
 
Second, real life dies well.  Revelation 14:13 states, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord…that they may rest from their labors…”  Death is never easy to bear.  But, the funerals of those who leave this world in the arms of God are not nearly as difficult as those whose lives were devoted to other things.
 
My thoughts run naturally to my mom.  She really did live well!  She was joyful, busy, helpful, and focused.  Furthermore, she lived well because she and dad had created a life of living well.  They had all they needed and more.  They spent their non-work time in ministry.  We all think it was appropriate that she passed on Labor Day.  Her work of service to the Lord was honored on that day.
 
Now, she has gone home to meet her maker.  She is now living better even as we live well!  We were singing songs about heaven during worship on Sunday.  I asked dad if he was jealous because mom was seeing in reality what we are only seeing in the words of the songs.  The point registered.
 
Real life is somewhat different from the life that many other people are facing.  Real life is living with God here and dying with God to be with Him over there.  Real life comes from having confidence that you will experience that life after life!

— Mike Johnson