Real Life

The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.

John 20:30-31

WHAT IS THIS life John speaks of?

Ryan experienced it sometime after he became a Christian. “One day I started to notice the beauty of creation. I was amazed. Then I started to notice the beauty of people. How they were constructed. Their faces. Every one of them was unique. I also sensed God was there as I talked to him in prayer. I no longer felt alone, although I’d felt intense loneliness for years before my conversion. I could sense the Holy Spirit deep within my being, talking to me, listening when I prayed. It was totally awesome.”

In time, Ryan noticed something else: how he felt a strange peace even when problems blew up in his face and could have seriously messed up his life. “It just was so gripping. I didn’t scream and yell, for once. I turned to God. It wasn’t like he zapped everything and made it perfect or anything. It’s just that I knew he was there, my situation was in his hands, and he would lead me through it. That was powerful comfort and strength.”

Those are the kinds of things that change merely existing into truly living a supernatural, engrossing, freeing, abundant life. And we can experience this only through Christ. Walking with him. Spending time in prayer. Learning about him. Growing close.

Draw near to him, and you’ll find him drawing near to you. That’s the life God promises you.