The Definition of Life

I once heard someone who was in the midst of some heavy caregiver responsibilities say, “I just don’t have a life anymore.  When this is finished, and I get my life back...”  

I was shocked, but the truth is that I could relate to her. There have been many times in my own life when I have said or thought the same thing.  

"When my kids are older and I have my life back..." 
"When this ministry is finished, and I have my life back..."
"When this time of serving is done, and I have my life back..."
"When this circumstance has passed, and I have my life back...”

Amazing, isn’t it? What do we think our “life” is?  

Colossians 3:4 begins, "When Christ, who is our life..."

This verse tells us that Christ is our life. It's not so much about who we are or what we do. It's not even about the span in time that we occupy.  Life is Him.  He is life.  Without Him, our life is not life!  Furthermore we never have more life than when we sacrifice our own life for the sake of another.  That’s what Jesus did.

When you give up your life to care for children, or the elderly, or disabled, you are really living.  When you give up your life to the call and ministry of the Lord, you are filled with life.  When you submit to the sovereignty of God in the circumstances of your life, you are alive.  

He is our life!

Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.  Luke 17:33.