The Secret To Life

THE SECRET TO LIFE

John 1:2-5

By Cleavon P. Matthews

August 2000

INTRODUCTION

It is possible to be alive and still not have life. At this moment all of us are alive. We have the appropriate signs of life. We have brain function. Our hearts are contracting. Our major organs are performing. But some of us are among ‘the living dead.’ We are void of the vitals signs of spiritual life. We have been born from below but not from above. We have breath but not belief. We have appetites for the world but not for the Word. The CT Scan of our life indicates an absence of true life. The EKG of our heart reveals a love for darkness rather than light. The MRI of our brain reveals stubbornness and rebellion. Our blood chemistry shows evidence of kidney failure, which is hindering our ability to properly filter the detrimental devices from, our lives.

Yes, we are alive. People, pains, pressures, and problems let us know we are alive. We go to work everyday; but we find no satisfaction from our labors. We have families but subconsciously we are isolated. We have houses but no place to call home. We have clothes but we feel naked and vulnerable. We have friends but they don’t understand us. We have spouses but they don’t listen to us. We have parents but they don’t care about us. We have children but they don’t appreciate us. We have baby daddies but they don’t help us. We come to church and we still aren’t any better. Yes, we are alive but we have no life!

What is life? Life is contentment under all circumstances. Life is having provision and protection from within. Life is loving the unlovable. Life is giving to those who are hurting you. Life is forgiving those who wrong you. Life is appreciating those who take you for granted. Life is having peace in the midst of chaos. Life is the ability to say everything is going to be alright. Life is the ability to remain faithful to an uncaring spouse. Life is being able to say, I am a new creation in Christ. Life is to be completely satisfied. Life is to have your cup running over.

Why don’t most of us have this life? Why are most of us alive but without true life? What is the Secret to life? The secret to life is Living from the Inside! Most people live from the outside. They attempt to achieve life through outside influences. They approach the fulfillment of life through the accusation of things. The thinking process is this: I will be alright or I will be happy when I am able to purchase my dream home. I will be alright when I get my dream vehicle. It becomes a continuous thirst for things. These things only provide a minute sense of wholeness. The things often become a burden. It is impossible for those who are seeking ‘Life’ to find it in things!

Others live from the outside by seeking completeness in positions and popularity. They anticipate a sense of completeness when they acquire the position or popularity status. This happens on all levels. They don’t consider themselves to be whole during the process or while climbing the ladder. They only believe they can be whole or have life once they have become the supervisor on the job, the city councilman, the college graduate, the great athlete, the superstar, or the owner of their own business. They need the approval of others in order to feel good about themselves. There is nothing wrong with wanting to do well and achieve high goals. But you should not seek them with the hopes of them making you complete or whole.

Others live from the outside by attempting to be self-sufficient. They crave independence. They boast denying the need for anyone. This is a grave danger because no creature is perfect. What will happen to the self-sufficient individual when they become ill? What will happen when they find themselves in a situation too big for them to handle?

Others live from the outside by attempting to find ‘Life’ through relationships with other people. This person is characterized by their devastation whenever anyone lets them down. They define themselves through their relationships with others. They need to be in the center. They need to be in favor with everyone. They need this desperately because without it they feel dead and alone.

John reveals the Secret to life. John illuminates the pathway to life. John provides us with the road map whose destination is ‘Life.’ True Life is found on the inside. Life is a major theme of John’s writing. In fact the purpose of this gospel is that those who read it might believe in Christ and have life in His Name. The word ‘Life’ is found 44 times in this gospel. What does John tell us about Life?