Whatever captures the mind will influence and directs one's life. What does this really mean? Hebrews 11:15 says
And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Whatever holds your mind holds your life. God in his infinite mercy did not just leave us to ourselves and imaginations. He didn't just leave us to figure out things on our own. He gives us something to focus our minds on, so that we can have an idea of how much his power can produce.
Abraham received God's promise of a child, yet his wife Sarah could not have a child because she was barren. God did not stop there; God called Abraham out of his tent and asked him to number the stars in the heavens. Obviously Abraham lost count, then God said to him that his descendance will be like the uncountable stars of heavens. God used that analogy to anchor Abraham's mind on the reality of the promise of God, giving him a picture of what he should focus on. Another example is virgin Mary. She also received a word from God of an impossible case of immaculate pregnancy. Angel Gabriel told her that her aunt who was said to be barren was already six months pregnant. God had to give Mary something to focus on to build her faith. All God was doing was to give Abraham and Mary a picture to hold onto in their minds while waiting for the fulfillment of God's word.
Now when we talk about the fullness of life, what picture comes into our minds? A smart person would say that if Jesus is the abundant life as we claim, why did he die young? He had no family, he had no wife, he had no children. Definitely His life shouldn't be a good definition of an abundant life. Obviously this is not the definition of the life we want for ourselves. Let's look at Galatians 3:13 through 14
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
So what do we call the fullness of life? Here is my own formula:
The Bible says that God had blessed Abraham in everything. He enjoyed long life, prosperity, respect and influence in his community. He had a good kid and he was a friend of God. Abraham also had challenges but he overcame them. Life was generally good for him. However, the Bible says that we received the promise of the HolySpirit in us. Here lies the advantage that we have in Christ; Abraham didn't experience the infilling of the Holy Spirit, neither did any of the prophet experience it. Therefore if you desire to walk in the fullness of life prosperity, influence, increase, etc, take a look at Abraham. Understudy him then add the advantage of the Holy Spirit in us as a result of our Union with Christ. In Hebrew 11, scriptures tells us that in all our patriarchs of faith experienced, they couldn't be made perfect because they didn't experience the in-dwelling of the Spirit as we experience today.
In summary, combination of the life of Abraham and the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, is what sums up to be the abundant life. This is the picture that God wants us to hold in our minds about the abundant life of God. May we live in the reality of this in Jesus name.
God bless you, enjoy your day.
