L.I.F.E

LIFE
JAMES 4: 13 – 17
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Life is important to us. When the doctor says you have cancer many react by asking how long will I live? If we do not ask it we often think it. To some life is cheap and to others life is sacred. To some it is a bowl of cherries and to others it is the pits. To some life is more than money, eating and drinking and to others they say eat, drink, and be marry. What is life to you?
I. Jesus said about life:
A John 10: 10 - 11 He came that we might have life.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
The devil is a thief, coming to steal, kill and destroy our life and soul. Jesus came that we might have life now and forever.

B. Luke 12: 15 Jesus says life is more than stuff, or possessions.
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Jesus told the parable of the rich man. We live in a material world. We can not take it with us, but we can sure miss heaven because of it. Covetousness is greedy desire of possessions or others possessions. Putting this greed before God.
C. John 6: 53 – 58 Jesus explained that the Lord’s supper was for those that had eternal life.
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

The letters of the word LIFE suggest some things that will make our lives satisfying, successful and more abundant in a christians life today.


II. Let us look at an acrostic of LIFE.
A. L = LOVE. John 13: 34 – 35 Jesus gives a New commandment.
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
How do people see us?
1. 1 Cor. 13: 13 Love never fails. True love is perfect.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Charity here is also translated love. Love is the greatest because it never fails. Christ says for our life to be fulfilling we must have love. True love.
2. Romans 8: 38 – 39 Paul writes to the Church in Rome about the love of God.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul was persuaded, how about us? In Christ Jesus nothing has the power to separate us from the love of God against our will. The love of God will save us if we will obey him.

B. I = Influence Gal. 5: 7 - 9 We all have an influence on someone.
7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
Christ does not hinder us from obeying him. Do we hinder others by our influence? Here leaven represents sin. There is no little sin.
1. Acts 9: 39 they showed the things Dorcas had made.
39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
They were influenced by the good work of Dorcas. They missed her. Are we doing for others that we might have a good influence?
2. Heb. 11: 4 Abel’s influence lived on in his example obeying God.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
We will be remembered for that which we have done, both good and evil. Which will we influence others with more? Good or evil?
C. F = Friendship Gen. 2: 18 God saw that Adam was alone.
18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
In marriage our mate should be our best friend to strengthen a marriage. Friends are a must to survive this life. No one can stand alone. No matter how strong, you need a friend.
1. John 15: 12 – 15 You are a friend of the Lord if you obey him.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
We are to be friends in the Lord. We are to love one another and in doing so we are a friend to Jesus. We have friends out of the church so for sure we should be friends to one another in Christ.
2. Luke 10: 36 – 37 Jesus told the parable of the good Samaritan.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
A friend will show mercy. Will help in time of need.
D. E = Eternity 2 Tim 1: 9 – 10 Christ brought us eternity through the gospel.
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
A christian should have no fear of death for eternity is a continuation of life. This life is a preparation for eternity. What we do now is recorded for eternity, but we can repent and wipe the record clean. God forgives.
1. James 4: 13 – 15 If the Lord will, we shall live…
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
It is God’s will that all will be saved.
2, 2 Peter 3: 9 Christ is long suffering for us to repent and obey Him
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Are we preparing for eternity? God has provided the way through Jesus Christ that all might be saved, but not all will obey God. Will you?

James 4: 14 Life is shot compared to eternity.
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

LIFE,
Love, Influence, Friends, and Eternity.
Are you living your life to its fullest in Christ Jesus?
Have you been baptized into Christ for the remission of your past sins?
This is the beginning of the christian life. The only life eternal with God and Christ.
Once you are in Christ you can not be lost unless you willingly turn from Christ back into willful sin.
In Christ we have nothing to fear.
In Christ we put off the fear of death and put on the joy of salvation in eternal life in heaven.
What is your life?
Do you need to come to Christ and obey him in baptism?
Do you need to repent and get back on the christion road to heaven?
What is your need? Christ is the answer. Will you come?