“I am come that they might have life” (John 10:10).

Beloved,

We have been given a great gift, namely the gift of life! “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” (Genesis 2:7). By virtue of this act man has been given a special relationship with his creator. For “man alone has the breath of life blown into his nostrils by God Himself. Only by virtue of this direct animation did man become a living being, drawing directly from God his life source.”1  Paul stated on Mars Hill in Athens before the philosophers that God “giveth to all life, and breath…for in him we live, and move and have our being” (Acts 17:25,28).

We are different from the beasts of the field in that beasts react instinctively while humans express “intellect, free will, self-awareness, consciousness of the existence of others, conscience, responsibility and self control.”2  Therefore, human life is precious and has purpose. David writes, “For I am fearfully and wonderfully made…how precious also are thy thoughts unto me” (Psalm 139:14,17). Beloved, remember, you are here this hour, this minute, this second, in this universe, on this planet for a reason. You are no mistake – God makes no mistakes.

One scholar makes this observation of the Hebrew word “life” (HaYYiM or HYYM, no vowels in Hebrew, simply vowel sounds). “the word for life in Hebrew ends with (YiM), the grammatical indicator of plurality. We are granted not one life, but two.”3

Indeed, this scholar is correct in his statement, as truly we “are granted” two lives. One life is spent here on earth, and the other will be spent in eternity. In terms of eternity, the Scripture speaks of two eternal places of existence, namely, Heaven or Hell. This Jewish scholar continues his statement by saying, “Central to the word ‘HaYYiM’ (the Hebrew word for life), are two YY’s (two ‘yuds’, the smallest of Hebrew letters) which, combined, form the name of God.”4

Now here is an interesting thought! Central to the Hebrew word for life is the name of God. The Apostle John tells us that Jesus is the very essence of “life” (John 1:3,4). Jesus is God, and those who trust in Him alone as Savior and Messiah will spend eternity in the presence of God, who is central to all life. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). John also stated, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life: but the wrath of God abideth on Him” (John 3:36).

Jesus also declares, “ But he that believeth not is condemned already” (John 3:18). This condemnation and wrath is a reference to Hell. Those who have not believed that Jesus is the Messiah will spend their eternal existence in a Godless Hell full of pain and misery forever. (Luke 16; Revelation 20) Those who put their trust and faith in Jesus for salvation will spend eternal with God in Heaven.

Though found in Jewish literature and taught in rabbinical circles, that God is central to life, many Jewish people are unaware that Jesus is God and Messiah. These precious souls are so close and yet so far from the truth concerning Jesus (Hebrew: Yeshua).

Endnotes:

1.Nahum M. Sarna, “Understanding Genesis, The Heritage of Biblical Israel,” (Schocken Books, New York, 1970), p. 14
2. Ibid., p. 16
3.Benjamin Blech, “the Secrets of Hebrew Words,” (Jason Aronson, Inc., New Jersey, 1991), p. 45
4.Ibid., p. 47

Shalom and Blessings,

Until He comes, we are

Together Under His Wings,

Dr. Jeff

Time is short, Life is precious, and Jesus is coming soon!