When we think of the word “life,” many ideas come to mind. We each have our current mortal life, and we will one day have eternal life in immortal bodies. We each have a God-ordained purpose for our life and a way that God wants us to live our life. We also have a certain quality of life – or abundant life – available to us. Let’s dive in and consider these and other important concepts about life found in God’s Word.
Christian quotes about life
“Relying on God has to start all over everyday, as if nothing has yet been done.”— C.S. Lewis
“Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once foolishness to us—a crucified God—must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world.” – John Piper
If peace seems elusive in your life today, commit yourself to God, commit your concerns to Him in prayer, and then rest peacefully as you trust in Him. – Dr. David Jeremiah
“The Christian life is a life that consists of following Jesus.” – A.W. Pink
“The key to Christian living is a thirst and hunger for God. And one of the main reasons people do not understand or experience the sovereignty of grace and the way it works through the awakening of sovereign joy is that their hunger and thirst for God is so small. ” – John Piper
What does the Bible say about life?
- The Bible says that Jesus is the revealed Word of life, bringing to us eternal life and fellowship with the Father, making our joy complete. (1 John 1:1-4) (John 3:36)
- Jesus said not to worry about the things we need in life. (Matthew 6:25)
“Do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25)
- The Bible says our lives should focus on eternal things, not earthly concerns. (Colossians 3:2-3)
- The Bible says life is short and we shouldn’t be presumptuous when making plans for the future. (James 4:13-15)
1. 1 John 1:1-4 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.”
2. John 3:36 “The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
3. Matthew 6:25 “Do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing?”
4. Colossians 3:2-3 “Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
5. James 4:13-15 “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”
6. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
7. Hebrews 3:4 “For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.”
8. 1 John 5:12 “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
9. Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
10. Ecclesiastes 9:9 “Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun–all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun.”
11. Genesis 1:10 “And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.”
Bible verses about the purpose of life
Our purpose in life is to know God and make Him known to others. When we know God, we walk in the light of His love and glory. We understand the power of His resurrection that broke the curse of sin and death and brought us eternal life.
“. . . that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” Philippians 3:10
We know God through His Word – through reading, studying, and meditating on what the Bible has to say about the character of God, how He has interacted with mankind through history, and His great love and ultimate sacrifice for us.
We know God through the personal relationship we have through Jesus, through His Holy Spirit living in us, teaching us and guiding us. We know God so we can love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Mark 12:30)
We make God known to others so they can also have eternal life and experience the love of Jesus. We follow Jesus’ final command to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to follow Jesus. (Matthew 28:19-20)
We make God known to others through living a life of love as Jesus did, loving others as we love ourselves. (Mark 12:31) We do this through loving our enemies, turning the other cheek, forgiving, not holding grudges, being patient and kind, respecting everyone, ministering to the sick, poor, disabled, homeless and others in need, encouraging and building others up, living in harmony with those around us, sharing in others’ sorrows and joys, and serving others humbly.
12. Philippians 3:10 “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death.”
13. Mark 12:30 “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.”
14. Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
15. Mark 12:31 “The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
16. Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
17. Isaiah 43:7 “Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. I was I who created them.”
18. Romans 11:36 “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”
19. John 17:3 “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
20. Psalm 72:19 “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
Life and death
As the Israelites were preparing to enter the promised land, God set a choice before them – life or death.
God has also given us a choice between life and death. We first need to choose eternal life in heaven over eternity in the torment of the lake of fire.
Along with life and death, God told the Israelites to choose between happiness and adversity in this present life. As believers today, living our lives following God’s Word brings joy. For instance, we have happier and more fulfilling relationships when we are loving, kind, forgiving, and honest with others. When we do our work with all our heart, we are more successful in our careers. When we trust God with our circumstances, we are rewarded with peace, confidence, and direction for how to proceed. When we seek to know God more intimately, we are blessed with the joy of His presence.
21. Deuteronomy 30:15 “See, I have placed before you today life and happiness, and death and adversity, in that I am commanding you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, so that you may live and become numerous, and that the LORD your God may bless you.”
22. John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
23. Hebrews 9:27 “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.”
24. Jeremiah 21:8 “You shall also say to this people, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.”
25. John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
26. 1 Corinthians 15:21 “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.”
27. Romans 8:10 “But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.”
28. Proverbs 14:27 “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.”
29. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
30. Revelation 1:18 “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
31. Romans 8:6 “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”
The beginning of spiritual life
We begin our walk with God when we acknowledge and turn away from our sin and toward God, believing that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead. (Acts 3:19) (John 3:16)
When we trust Jesus as our Savior, it is the beginning of a lifetime of growing in the knowledge of God and into deeper intimacy with Him. (2 Peter 3:18)
The first thing you want to do is learn as much as you can about God, your relationship with Him, and how He wants you to live. You do this by reading and studying the Bible – on your own every day, in church, and in Bible studies. You also want to develop a habit of prayer – all kinds of prayer: thanksgiving and praise, prayers of repentance for sin, prayers of intercession for other people, and requests for your own needs. You also grow through spending time with other growing Christians, learning from them, and mutually encouraging each other.
32. Acts 3:19 “Therefore, repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”
33. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”
34. 2 Peter 3:18 “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
35. John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”
36. John 8:24 “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”
37. Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
38. John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
39. Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
40. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast.”
41. Acts 16:31 “They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
42. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
43. Titus 3:15 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
How does God want us to live life?
God first wants us to live our lives seeking God’s kingdom and living righteously in obedience to His commands. As we do this, we will receive the things we need in life.
“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
Seeking God’s kingdom begins with allowing Him to reign in our lives – living for Him, following His guidance, submitting to Him. It also means building up God’s kingdom on earth, through sharing His gospel of salvation with others, so they can believe in Him and become part of the kingdom.
Paul’s prayer for the Colossians is an excellent summary of how God wants us to live:
“We . . . have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be:
- Filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that . . .
- You will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,
- To please Him in all respects,
- Bearing fruit in every good work, and
- Increasing in the knowledge of God;
- Strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might,
- For the attaining of all perseverance and patience;
- Joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Colossians 1:9-12)
In this life, we all have work to do, whether our career, or schoolwork, or housework, or yard work, or work in the church, or ministry to others. The way we do our work should bring glory to God. We should work with our whole hearts, diligently, efficiently, happily – regardless of who is looking – with the idea that we are working for God, not others.
42. Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people.”
43. Ephesians 5:1-2 “Be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
44. Galatians 5:16 “Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
45. Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
46. Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
47. 1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
48. 2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
49. Galatians 5:25 “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”
50. Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”
51. Matthew 7:12 “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the prophets.”
How to live with an eternal perspective?
Our life right now on this earth is only a miniscule segment of our life. All the stuff going on in this world and in our lives right now is only important insofar as it affects our eternal existence and other’s eternal existence. We should live life remembering that our true citizenship is heaven, not here. (Philippians 3:20)
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
In the small amount of time that we have on this earth, we should set our priorities so that we’re focused what’s eternal, not temporary. Storing up treasures in heaven includes supporting our local church, missions, and ministries to the needy. It includes sharing our faith – through words and loving actions – with all those around us, so they can also join us in heaven for eternity. It’s making the kingdom of God our chief priority.
52. Philippians 3:20 “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
53. Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
54. Ephesians 5:18 “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”
55. Psalm 93:2 “Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.”
56. Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
57. Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
58. Titus 2:13 “Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”
59. 2 Corinthians 4:18 “as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
60. Hebrews 11:26 “He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.”
61. 1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
The importance of self-reflection
Self-reflection has the idea of giving serious thought and consideration to God’s Word and what it means in your life. It goes beyond simply reading a verse or a passage to considering how to put it into practice. What does God want you to know about Him? What does He want you to do or stop doing? How is your life measuring up to His Word? Many people find journaling helpful in this process.
Self-reflection includes taking self-inventory, perhaps at the end of the day. Were my motives pure? Were my words kind? Was I sarcastic or grumbling? Do I need to apologize to someone? In what areas could I improve? Did I waste time in unproductive activities? Is there a sin I need to confess? How can I be more loving, encouraging, and empowering to others?
Self-reflection is intrinsic for strengthening our spiritual life and for our impact on others for God. It is the key to internalizing God’s Word – not just reading it and forgetting it five minutes later, but self-reflection helps with living it out. It reorients us, so we grow in intimacy with God. Taking regular self-inventory is crucial for walking in holiness. As we analyze what we’re doing well and where we need to do better, we weed out sin and unfruitful activities, enabling exponential growth in character and godliness.
62. 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”
63. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
64. Lamentation 3:40 “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.”
65. Psalm 77:6 “I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, And my spirit ponders.”
The Lord is with you
“I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
In one sense, God is always with us because He is omnipresent – or everywhere at once. Thus, for the ancient psalmist and for us today we have the comfort of knowing that God is right there to protect us and come to our aid.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very ready help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
But God can be present in a more tangible way, as He was with the Israelites when they left Egypt.
“And the LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they might travel by day and night.” (Exodus 13:21)
Today, we truly have “God with us,” because God’s Holy Spirit indwells all believers.
- He gives us power to witness (Acts 1:8),
- God’s love is poured into us through the Spirit (Romans 5:5),
- He intercedes for us when we don’t know how to pray (Romans 8:26-27),
- He teaches us all things and reminds us of Christ’s words (John 14:26),
- He helps us obey God (Ezekiel 36:26-27),
- His power enables us to put our sin nature to death (Romans 8:12-13),
- He sanctifies us – He sets us apart and purifies us (2 Thessalonians 2:13),
- He transforms us into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18),
- He enables us to live in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), and
- He gives each of us different spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:11).
66. Joshua 1:9 “This is my command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
67. John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
68. Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
69. Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
70. Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
71. Matthew 28:20 “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
72. Romans 5:5 “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
What does it mean to live an abundant life?
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
The context of Jesus’ words about abundant life was the healing of a man born blind in John 9. Jesus had healed a blind beggar who subsequently gave an amazing testimony before the synagogue. The man believed in Jesus and worshipped Him. (John 9:38) He was set free from his sin to live in faith, love, and peace.
Jesus also set him free from the chains of his disability. He no longer had to beg for a living or depend on others to care for his daily needs. Now he could be independent, work and support himself, read and write, and see the faces of his loved ones and the beauty of nature. Jesus gave him abundant life in a multi-faceted way.
After the blind beggar was healed, the Pharisees put him out of the synagogue. Jesus responded with a teaching on spiritual blindness and continued (in John 10) where He referred to Himself as the door to the sheepfold, and the Pharisees – the blind teachers – as thieves stealing the teaching of eternal and abundant life from the people.
Abundant life begins with our new birth in Christ restoring our relationship with God. We are set free from our sin nature and filled with the Holy Spirit to live victoriously over sin. The abundant life is filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23). Abundant life is a life of joy, victory, and reveling in the love of God regardless of circumstances.
73. Psalm 16:11 “You will make known to me the way of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”
74. John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
75. John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Conclusion
Our current life on this present earth is a life of growth, a life of service, and a life of being transformed to be more like Jesus. But our current life and this present earth are both temporary. One day, when Jesus returns, we believers will be caught up to meet Him in the air to be with Him forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:17) At that moment, our bodies will change into perfect bodies that will never more experience sickness, sorrow, or death (1 Corinthians 15:52, Revelation 21:4).
Our true citizenship is heaven, for that is where we will live into infinity. That is where we will reign with Christ as kings and priests forever (Revelation 5:10, 22:5) Our focus in this life should be preparing for our eternal life. Our goal should be to bring as many people as possible with us into eternal life with God.
