GETTING THE MOST OUT OF BEING HUMAN

I was talking recently to a young man who in his words “was never a crier before.” He came to know Christ a couple of years ago from a non-church background. He attended a men’s conference at his church & experienced a deep work of the Holy Spirit in his life. He found that he was moved to a genuine emotional response to what God was doing in his life.

This points out a reality that followers of Christ should know about & value. This reality is that the work of the Living God in our lives is something that increases our ability to experience life as a human being. The young man’s awareness of a greater connection to his emotional side is just one aspect of this truth.

Here are a few passages from the Gospels that seem to hint at this:

And He (Jesus) said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind’ (Matthew 27:37). This was Jesus’ reply when asked by someone what was the first & greatest commandment. Put another way, expressing our love for God isn’t limited to select, “spiritual” aspects of life; it should encompass all aspects of life.

When describing His mission on the earth, Jesus said: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). In contrast to the destruction that Satan wants to bring to humanity, Jesus desires to bring fulness & completeness to human beings.

“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). Eternal life isn’t something that the believer receives at death; it becomes theirs at the precise point of their believing & obeying Christ.

Humans are human regardless of their spiritual status. But when we open our lives to the God who created us & provided for our salvation, we are regenerated spiritually & receive eternal life as a present reality. The various sides of our lives that are part of our humanity (such as emotions, intellect, perceptions, abilities, passions, etc.) are enhanced thru our openness to God & willingness to embrace or experience His working.

It’s not that those who don’t know Christ are less human. It’s that those who do know Him have a greater potential to experience reality to an extent that is simply not available to others.

God doesn’t change our personalities; personality is an important part of what defines us & is a way that God shows His limitless creativity. But He does refine & redeem our personalities to express His love for us & for those around us.

Want to maximize what it means to be human? Surrender your life to the God who created you & gave His Son to save you. He'll have some pretty awesome surprises in store for you!