to come to Me that you may have life."
John 5:40
Her husband was depressed. He said, "If this is all there is to life, what a big disappointment." She said, "I know exactly what you mean. I felt the same way as a teenager. It was then that I found real life in Christ." He looked perplexed, and said, "Don't start that church talk with me. I don't want to hear it." Again, she said, "I know what you mean, but I'm not talking about religion. I'm talking about real life, and that only comes through a real relationship with Christ." He walked away not saying anything.
Jesus was speaking to religious people. They read and studied the Bible, but they would not come to Him to have real life. Two words are translated life from the Greek New Testament. Bios is translated life. It simply means physical life. Zoe is also translated life, but it refers to God's life. When we have real life, we have eternal life. That is the very life of God. Real life is a personal relationship with God in Christ. "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3).
Knowing God through real life in Christ is experiencing love, joy and peace. It means that we have new purpose in life, not living simply for selfish pleasure, but to glorify God in Christ. The apostle Paul wrote, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). To die is gain, because the believer has eternal life, and can never be separated from the love of God. Not even death can separate us from God's life and love (Romans 8:38-39).
God, I want to know You for real.
