Filed under: events & gatherings, leadership & youth | Tags: campus harvest manila 08, every nation campus ministries, living life to the full, testing of faith
This is a very late post about Campus Harvest Manila ‘08, a three day event held at the PhilSports Arena (formerly Ultra) in Pasig City, last May 22-24.
“What does it mean by living life to the full?”
This question was thrown by Patrick Mercado to the throng of young people and youth leaders at the arena. Patrick, a speaker during the second day of the CH08 event and a youth leader from VCF Ortigas searched his Bible but found no specific meaning or definition to that question. Instead he found five specific characters in the Bible, people who lived a purposeful life, died old, and were full of years.
1. Abraham (Genesis 25:8);
“Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people.”
2. Isaac (Genesis 35:29);
“Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.”
3. David (I Chronicles 23:1);
“When David was old and full of years, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.”
4. Jehoiada (II Chronicles 24:15);
“Now Jehoiada was old and full of years, and he died at the age of a hundred and thirty.”
5. Job (Job 42:17)
“And so he died, old and full of years.”
These men were part of the Hall of Faith, an elite group of men with supernatural abilities. These heroes can leap tall buildings in a single bound, dodge bullets, melt steel with a single gaze, and yes die of old age. Ok, ok… i’m stretching (and joking). Seriously, these men were known for their unwavering faith. They have endured tremendous testing of faith, some even went to the extent of going through the fire. The kind that scorches everything in its path, the all consuming fire.
Job, for instance, lost everything (family, servants, possessions, etc.) and was even inflicted with a disease. Yet, he was able to make one of the most astounding declaration of faith ever uttered: “Though he slay me, yet will i hope in Him” (Job 13:15)
How many of us can really say that amidst such a life changing experience? Be careful how you answer that question, if you can answer it at all. The Lord may just reveal the true level of your faith, believe me when i say that it’s going to be a very humbling experience. It will not be a walk in the park, instead it will be a walk towards the path of humility. Yes, it will mean death to all our personal desires, plans, and ambitions… it’s going to be a fire that will consume everything from the inside out.
Testing of faith usually reveals who we really are, but most importantly it will reveal who God really is, and who is actually the Lord over our lives. It’s an experience that will reveal who occupies the throne in our lives. So, still want to answer that question? Yeah, i figured.
Now, let’s go back to the previous question: What does it mean by living life to the full? Or how can you live your life to the full? Abraham, Isaac, David, Jehoiada, and Job did three things to show that they lived their lives to the full.
One: They all heard from God. They had a revelation of who God is in their life.
Two: They experieced God. It’s not enough to hear about God, having Jesus Christ in your life is of utmost importance.
Three: They obeyed God. Period. (No buts and ifs.)
“A God-driven abundant and purposeful life.” – that’s the meaning of living life to the full.
Living life to the full is a result of having a relationship with Jesus Christ. Everything has satisfaction and meaning once we allow Christ to enter and reign over our lives. Jesus said it Himself :
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
