In order to define life, we may need to go back to the beginning of human life, that is, the very first time that man had life. Genesis 2 verse 7 says, 'And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
In short, man started as a lifeless lump of earth. Until the lifeless lump of earth was filled with God, man had no life. He only became a living being after God filled him with Himself.
Therefore, simply put, life means being filled with God or being full of God.
If we look at the life of Adam, the first human to dwell on earth, we could notice some characteristics of unsullied human life.
First, there was this unquenchable bouyancy in his spirit, soul and body. There was no doubt that this was the life of God that nothing could touch. Secondly, the quickening life of the Almighty resided in him. Thirdly, Adam demonstrated the ability or grace to do God's will. For instance, the man named all living things. Genesis 2 verse 20. Man also had the ability to rule the universe on God's behalf. Psalm 8 verses 4,5,6,7 and 8. The life of God which dwelt in man enabled him to do all these things.
However, what we see in humans today is a mockery of the true characteristics of God's life as demonstrated by the first man. For instance, today man cannot even effectively rule himself talk less of ruling the universe.
What really happened was that the story of man changed when the thief entered. The Lord Jesus Christ said in John 10 verse 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.''
We are going to look at the things the thief stole from man. Firstly, the thief stole man's fondness for God. This he did by sowing doubt in the mind of man. Secondly, the thief stole man's faith in God and sowed fear in the heart of man. Thirdly, the thief stole man's innocence and defiled him in the process. Finally, the thief stole God's covering, glory and protection over man by making him to rebel against God's Word or instructions. Man thus became naked.
You can read the full account of the thief's encounter with man in Genesis 3 verses 1 to 11. Man, who was expected to live indefinitely, became a walking corpse, waiting to be committed or consigned to the earth from where he was taken.
Essentially, man became emptied of God after his encounter with the thief. He was left with the lowest form of life, that is, physical life.
However, fortunately, the solution to man's problem can also be found in the latter part of John 10 verse 10. It says, ''..........................................................................: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.''
This simply means that if man truly desires to have real life, he cannot have it outside Jesus Christ. There is no other way.
When anyone comes to the Lord Jesus Christ by truly repenting of his or her sins and receiving the new birth, he or she is emptied of the thief who filled man with himself at the fall. He or she is then ready to be refilled by God again. This is the abundant life that the Lord Jesus Christ talks about in the latter part of John 10 verse 10.
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