"if I get a life"? If you can see the sign, you have a life, so what's this person referring to? So, I turned to my electronic dictionary for some definitions...
My Wordnet 3.0 defines life as...
The noun life has 14 senses (first 13 from tagged texts)
1. (66) life -- (a characteristic state or mode of living; "social life"; "city life"; "real life") (emphasis added)
2. (54) life, living -- (the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities; "he could no longer cope with the complexities of life") (emphasis added)
3. (41) life -- (the course of existence of an individual; the actions and events that occur in living; "he hoped for a new life in Australia"; "he wanted to live his own life without interference from others") (emphasis added)
4. (29) animation, life, living, aliveness -- (the condition of living or the state of being alive; "while there's life there's hope"; "life depends on many chemical and physical processes")
5. (22) life, lifetime, life-time, lifespan -- (the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death); "the battery had a short life"; "he lived a long and happy life")
6. (18) life -- (the period between birth and the present time; "I have known him all his life")
7. (5) life -- (the period from the present until death; "he appointed himself emperor for life")
8. (5) life -- (a living person; "his heroism saved a life")
9. (5) liveliness, life, spirit, sprightliness -- (animation and energy in action or expression; "it was a heavy play and the actors tried in vain to give life to it")
10. (5) life -- (living things collectively; "the oceans are teeming with life")
11. (3) life -- (the organic phenomenon that distinguishes living organisms from nonliving ones; "there is no life on the moon")
12. (2) biography, life, life story, life history -- (an account of the series of events making up a person's life) (emphasis added)
13. (1) life -- (a motive for living; "pottery was his life") (emphasis added)
14. life sentence, life -- (a prison term lasting as long as the prisoner lives; "he got life for killing the guard")
While most of these seem to apply generically, number 14 doesn't (to me, anyway). However, some of those definitions seemed particularly relevant to me and perhaps you as well, so I emphasized them.
So, what does it mean to "get a life"?
The apostle John says...
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it. 6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. 9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. 12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (emphasis added)14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’” 16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. (emphasis added) 18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. 12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (emphasis added)14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’” 16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. (emphasis added) 18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.
If I understand him correctly, John's answer to that question is- Jesus. This solitary man, this man among and above all others is the answer. Why? Several reasons. First, because he lived a GOD directed life and therefore embodied perfection in all that he did. I wonder, can we say the same about the way we live? Second, he answered the question of what life really is- a life lived with the one who is the creator. Lastly, Jesus provided a way to be with God that went beyond adhering to rules and regulations- Grace, given by Jesus' sacrifice of his own perfect life for all who will come to him as LORD and SAVIOR.
Those who will follow Jesus in obedience to God's will have their sins forgiven and will be with him in heaven, forever.
I don't know what you think about all this- but to me, it sounds a lot like "getting a life"!!!
Get one.
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