Seek Eternal, Not a Better, Life

Scripture: Jesus answered, "Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal of approval on him." John 6:26-27

Observation: After the feeding of the 5,000, the people have been looking for Jesus. Here he will give a major lesson about being "the bread of life", with all kinds of references to ... physical vs. spiritual fulfillment, the meaning of the manna provided in the wilderness, and understanding what it means to receive from the Messiah.

In all of this passage, and summarized by this introduction, the main point of this entire lesson is this: There is a major difference between having faith in the Lord because he provides for your life, and having faith in the Messiah because he is simply the son of the Lord and thus makes the way for your salvation. The first of these is faith, but it is based on earthly ideas around safety, comfort, and needs. The second of these is true faith, where hope is placed - and joy is found - in the promises of the Lord, the truth and authority of his word, and eternal life in heaven.

Those who 'see the signs' - who perceive the truth about Jesus as their Lord and savior - have a faith that will remain rooted in Jesus. Those who are simply 'filled' - who are delighted because God has provided blessing and seen them through hardship - have faith in that provision but are missing the deeper connection. And in verses 36, Jesus even calls this out as a lack of belief. Instead, he calls everyone into a deeper desire for eternal life, and not just a better earthly life ... to eat the bread he offers by his life and sacrifice, and not just the bread he feeds them for lunch.

Application: Belief in Jesus that comes from some kind of saving event - an answered prayer that miraculously delivers a person - is common. It is in fact a very acceptable way of first discovering that God is real, and Jesus is in fact the Messiah. However, faith must go deeper.

I have so many blessing in my life, and I thank God every day for those blessings. However, I must continue to go deeper in my relationship with Jesus, to the point that all earthly 'things' are secondary to the hope I have in salvation, and my desire to serve the Lord in bringing others that same hope.

Prayer: Lord, I do in fact thank you for the blessings of my life. My daily provision is truly a measure that overflows beyond what I could ever need. However, my true hope is not for more blessing, but rather for your promise of eternal life in heaven. May I do all the more every day with that hope in front of me. Amen.