I've often conceived of John 1010 and the fullness of life that we have in Christ as being a blessing or a benefit of being a Christian. I think when I was younger, I thought, oh, if I live out the Christian life, if I behave, I'll have an abundant or full life. I've thought about that differently as an adult. But as I was preparing this talk, I realized that we often do conceive of this fullness of life as a blessing or benefit. But I think we need

to think about it

as a mandate.

God is not offering us

abundant and full life because

we behave or

because we acknowledge God. I think God is inviting us, mandating us into the fullness of life so that we can fully participate in his ongoing work as full persons in this world. I sincerely hope that the 2020s, or perhaps this millennium, will be known as an era where Christians stopped

being motivated by escaping,

not being motivated by a fear of hell. Forgive me. But as a season of Christian history,

where we truly engaged

God's spirit and work to enable this earth to be the place where God dwells, let us engage wholeheartedly, whole-bodiedly in the spirit's ongoing work in the world. Let this era be known for a new vitality and vigor in our surrendering and

participating in the work of the spirit

to bring God's creation to completion. Let us thrive as the fearfully and wonderfully made creations that God intended us to be. Let us be full of ourselves, not for our own ends, but for the fulfillment of God's creation and to prepare God's home here on earth.

Amen. For visit us at fuller.edu slash studio.