Holding Steadfast to Life and Walking in the Abundance of God’s Kingdom By: Major Frank Materu
Key Scripture:
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
— John 10:10
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Introduction
We are living in times when death, despair, and emptiness dominate the thoughts, conversations, and choices of multitudes. Death is not only evident in physical form, but also in spiritual barrenness, moral decay, and the quiet hopelessness of hearts that have lost their sense of purpose. Many are alive biologically, yet inwardly dead, disconnected from God, consumed by self-interest, and slowly drifting toward eternal separation from Him. Others have already crossed that line, having died in their sins without repentance, facing the tragic reality of eternal judgment.
Yet in the midst of this darkness, God speaks with clarity and urgency to His people. His call is not to fear, retreat, or despair, but to hold steadfast to life. This life is not mere existence, nor is it defined by material abundance or worldly success. It is the abundant life that flows from redemption, obedience, surrender, and participation in the higher-kingdom love of God. It is a life rooted in purpose, sustained by grace, and directed by the Holy Spirit.
This lesson unfolds the divine call to remain anchored in life, to reject the seductive pull of self-centered living, and to walk daily in the abundance God has prepared for His redeemed people. It challenges false definitions of prosperity, exposes the emptiness of self-love, and presents the life of Jesus as the ultimate pattern for true abundance. Above all, it calls believers to become living witnesses of God’s life and love in a starving and dying world.
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Holding Steadfast to Life in an Age of Death
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life.”
— Deuteronomy 30:19
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God’s instruction to His people is clear: hold steadfast to life. Life is not automatic; it is a choice that must be made daily. Many have slipped into the arms of death because they failed to cling to life as God defines it. Some are already dead spiritually, having rejected repentance and chosen sin. Others exist in a slow decay, waiting to die, consumed by self-interest, selfish ambition, and empty pursuits.
God does not intend His people to belong to either category. He calls them to rejoice in the privilege of living. Life, in God’s economy, is a gift meant to be stewarded, celebrated, and shared. It is given not only for personal fulfillment but for testimony. Those redeemed from the bondage of sin are brought into alignment with God’s purpose and guided daily by His Spirit, that they may reflect His goodness and mercy to others.
To hold steadfast to life means refusing to yield to despair, weariness, or spiritual complacency. It requires perseverance in righteousness, faithfulness in obedience, and a continual fixing of one’s vision upon God.
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The Call to Persevere in Well-Doing
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
— Galatians 6:9
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God exhorts His people not to grow weary in well-doing. Weariness often sets in when believers lose sight of eternal realities and become distracted by the pressures, injustices, and disappointments of this world. Yet perseverance is essential to experiencing the fullness of God’s abundance.
As believers purpose themselves unto God, they begin to understand more deeply His desire to share His abundance with those who love Him. This abundance is not earned through striving, nor is it measured by worldly standards. It is the overflow of a life aligned with God’s will, marked by peace, joy, purpose, and spiritual fruitfulness.
God’s abundance flows most freely where there is surrender, gratitude, and trust. The more His people walk in fellowship with Him, the more they discover that His ways are glorious and life-giving.
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The Poverty of Self-Love and the Illusion of Worldly Riches
“What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”
— Mark 8:36
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When God exposes the desolation of the damned, He reveals a sobering truth: worldly riches cannot mask spiritual poverty. Even those who appear successful, influential, or wealthy by worldly standards may be inwardly miserable and eternally lost. Their lives are marked by the poverty of self-love.
Self-love centers the heart on emptiness. It isolates the soul from God and from others. Those who bow to the god of self choose a covering of spiritual death, regardless of how prosperous they may appear. Sin separates humanity from God, leaving souls desolate, lonely, and unfulfilled.
True life cannot be found in self-centered living. God calls His people away from the worship of self and into the surrender that leads to eternal life.
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Dying to Self to Gain Eternal Life
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
— Luke 9:23
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The path to life in God’s kingdom passes through death to self. This truth, proclaimed and lived by Jesus, stands in direct opposition to the world’s message of self-promotion, self-preservation, and self-glorification. To love God, one must forsake the self-life.
Jesus Himself embodied this principle perfectly. He came not to be served, but to serve. He did not seek recognition, earthly power, or personal glory. His life was a living testimony of higher-kingdom love, fully surrendered to the Father’s will.
Those who are consumed with self-love cannot experience this love, because their affection and attention are turned inward. God does not call His people to live in the loneliness of self-centeredness, but in the fullness of relational, sacrificial love.
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Living as Witnesses of Higher-Kingdom Love
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
— John 13:35
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God’s people are chosen to live in the abundance of life found in Him and to represent that life to a dying world. There are countless individuals starving for love, meaning, and hope—needs that only God can truly satisfy. God hears their cries of despair and sends His Spirit to draw them toward salvation through Jesus.
Believers are members of a divine love family, redeemed from loneliness, bondage, and sin. This redemption is a privilege that demands gratitude and faithful service. As forgiven people walking in newness of life, they are called to testify not only with words, but with lives transformed by God’s love.
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The Danger of Looking Back to the Old Life
“Remember Lot’s wife.”
— Luke 17:32
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God warns His people not to look back longingly at the old life of sin and bondage. Lot’s wife serves as a solemn example of the danger of divided affections. Her heart was tied to what she was leaving behind, and her desire for self-preservation led to her destruction.
The old life was a prison, not a treasure. To glorify it or attempt to preserve it is to misunderstand the nature of salvation. Those saved through Jesus are called to transformation, with His life becoming the pattern they follow.
Abundant life lies ahead, not behind. God calls His people to press forward, keeping their vision fixed on what He has prepared for them.
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True Abundant Life Versus False Prosperity
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”
— 1 Timothy 6:10
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Many have distorted the meaning of abundant life, equating it with material wealth and teaching that gain is godliness. Such interpretations are rooted in greed and worldliness, not in truth. Those who chase material abundance while neglecting spiritual surrender are deeply entrenched in self-life and spiritual desolation.
God reveals the true nature of abundant life to His people. It is not measured by possessions, but by participation in His life. As believers die to the old life, they gain the new life God gives freely—a life marked by contentment, generosity, purpose, and love.
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Summary
This lesson calls believers to hold steadfast to life in a world dominated by death. It exposes the emptiness of self-love, the illusion of worldly riches, and the danger of looking back to a life of sin. It presents Jesus as the perfect model of surrendered living and defines true abundant life as participation in God’s higher-kingdom love. Believers are reminded of their calling to persevere, to live gratefully, and to bear witness to God’s life in a dying world.
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Conclusion
God’s way is life, and His desire is that His people walk fully in it. Abundant life is not found in self-centered living or material accumulation, but in surrender, obedience, and love. Those who choose God’s way will experience a blessed and beautiful life, rich in eternal value and spiritual fruit.
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Call to Action
Choose life daily by surrendering your self-life to God. Refuse the pull of selfishness, despair, and worldly definitions of success. Walk intentionally in obedience, gratitude, and love, becoming a living testimony of God’s kingdom to those around you.
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Final Word of Encouragement
Be encouraged, beloved of God. You are not destined for death, emptiness, or despair. You are called to life—abundant, purposeful, and eternal. As you lay down your life to walk God’s way, you will discover the richness of His love and the joy of living fully in Him.
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Salvation Prayer
Heavenly Father,
I come before You acknowledging that life is found only in You. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son, that He died for my sins, and that He rose again to give me new life. I repent of self-centered living and turn away from sin. I surrender my life to You and choose Your way of life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, transform my heart, and lead me in Your abundant life. From this day forward, I live for You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
