What is the true meaning and essence of life? What are the indices that characterize or substantiate the quality of life? Why are people busy here and there, placing high priority on the things that have no value inherent in them and giving less priority to the things that matter the most in life? What is the most important thing everyone should chase after or rather what should you and I chase after?

 

We now live in a world that is full of distractions, so much so that men have lost touch with purpose, with God and with the ordinations of God for their lives. What exactly is the true meaning of life? The true meaning and essence of life is rich fulfillment and satisfaction. What substantiates the quality of life again I will say is rich fulfillment and satisfaction. What everyone is chasing after is rich fulfillment and satisfaction. Is it that simple? Why would such a simple answer be given to a problem that seems too narrow for a life and a world that looks rather complex, evolving and dynamic? You would agree with me that the world is moving or changing so fast that you are also required to keep yourself abreast to catch up or you would be left behind. But see what the Scripture says; “those who wait on the Lord shall….” You know the rest. Speed, fulfillment and satisfaction is not determined by how fast the world is moving, it is determined by how long you wait.

 

The secret to catching up with the pace of the world is not by running after the world but waiting on the Lord. It doesn’t matter whether kings are already on royal chariots running towards the city, be like Elijah stay on the mountain and wait. Your speed won’t be a product of chariots, it will be a function of the wings of the Spirit. What is the meaning of these things I say?

 

What I am saying in essence is this? The true meaning of life is a function of rich fulfillment and satisfaction, but this experience does not fall down on anyone like ripe pawpaw, it is an experience that money can buy, it comes when you place value on the things that are truly valuable, it is the feeling you have when you contribute something, your quota; it is you unleashing your potentials, and the treasures, the reservoir of value deposited in you to change the world through you. It is you writing your name on the sands on of time. But no valuable contribution to the world is done outside of living a purpose driven life. This understanding forms the basis for an experience in life called ‘rich fulfillment’.

 

 

I am sure you have come across this phrase before in the Bible?  “You have brought us to rich fulfillment”. It can be found in Psalm 66:12^b, it says; “But you have brought us to rich fulfillment”.

 

What is rich fulfillment? Rich fulfillment is a place, an experience, a location, a point in life where you have truly found Jesus, having sort for Him with the whole of your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 says; you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with the whole of your heart. The instrument for searching for Jesus is the heart. And the guarantee for finding Him is when you search with the whole of your heart. So, finding Jesus is what brings you to the point of satisfaction in this world.

 

I say this because, Jesus is the sum-total of fulfillment and satisfaction in life. He said you search the Scripture thinking in it you will find eternal life, He said and these are they that testify of Me. (John 5:39) Prior to this statement, in Psalm 66:12b, the psalmist was recording their experiences, their journey; how God has brought and helped them thus far. He was giving praise to God for His awesome works. How they went through all that they went through yet God brought them out. It seemed like the story of Joseph; how God brought him out of the pit, how God saw him through the wilderness; how He was with him in Potiphar’s house and even in the prison. The rich fulfilment was when he became the prime minister. The Bible says many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivered him from them all. This was what Peter meant when he said after you have suffered for a while, after you have sought the Lord with all your heart, He will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you. 1 Peter 5:10. (Emphasis added)

 

The psalmist said in that Psalm 66:12b; O God you have tested us; you have refined us as silver is refined. This was not an easy process. He said You brought us into the net; you laid affliction on our backs. We went through fire and through water; but you brought us out into rich fulfillment. You brought us to the right destination, to rich fulfillment. Hear what Joseph said “the Lord has blessed me in a strange land”. That was his rich fulfillment. But before this experience the Bible says in Psalm 105:18, they bruised his feet with shackles, and placed his neck in irons until what he foretold came to pass, that was the realization of his dreams, having being scoffed at, laughed at, and despised. But this was the path that made Jesus become the chief corner stone. He despised the shame and endured the cross. For David he said He prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies. That was his rich fulfillment. But his secret was that he looked up not to the hills but to the Lord when king Saul was after his life. Rich fulfillment is an announcement of a new season having gone through the waiting season.

 

The amplified version describes it as a broad, moist place of abundance, refreshment and open air. The message translation says you road-tested us. Just like the Scripture spoke about Joseph, it says; before his word came, the word of the Lord tried him. In continuation, this translation says; “You road-tested us inside and out, took us to hell and back; finally he brought us to this well-watered place”. I call it a green pasture experience. The Bible says the promises of God are yeah and they are amen in Christ Jesus. Because God is not a man that He will lie nor the son of man that He should repent when he says a thing, he will make it good. Rich fulfillment is the proven word of God proving to be true in ones life.

 

After all the experiences, Bible says He brought us to a well-watered place. Why not somewhere else, maybe mountain or a plain or a desert, why was the description of a well-watered place used? This looks like a garden; this looks like a place called Elim. A well-watered place talks about a place of abundance of water. A place devoid of dryness and barrenness, a place called the place of fulfillment of the promise.

 

I would like us to pay close attention at this point, this is where the Holy Spirit wants to give us another perspective in regards to this. The place of rich fulfilment is a place, a point where you are thirsty yet you are hungry for Jesus, a point where you are at rest, a place where you know not all things can satisfy except Jesus. It is a place where you can’t exchange Jesus for anything mundane; you drink from Jesus until you are satisfied.  Just like the psalmist would say; as the deer pants after the water brooks, so my soul longs for you O God.

 

Apostle Paul would say forgetting the things that are behind and reaching for the things that are ahead. This is a perpetual state of thirst and hunger for more of Christ. Apostle Paul said I count all things as dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.  What was he desiring to attain? He called it the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus. The place of rich fulfillment is a place where your soul is satisfied with Christ- His word; a place where you understand the true meaning of what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul. This right here is the true meaning and essence of life. These are the indices that characterize or substantiate the quality of life. This the reason why people are busy here and there placing high priority to the things that have no value inherent in them and giving less priority to the things that matter the most in life. This is what everyone should be chasing after. You may be knowledgeable in many things and many in many ways but the ignorance of these dynamics will rob you of rich fulfillment and satisfaction in life.

 

Jesus said no one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other. (Matthew 6:24) In other words, you can’t serve Jesus and serve or chase after the world. Bible says those who love the world, the love of the father is not in them.  This is the reason why Peter replied ‘to whom shall we go’? Does it mean he didn’t have options? There were options. But he said you have the word of eternal life. What does that mean? There is something in Jesus that cannot be compared to anything the world has to offer. It is called rich fulfillment and satisfaction.

 

The desire of Christ is so that every man finds fulfillment and satisfaction in life. He said come unto me all yea that labor and are heavy laden. And I will give you rest. See what God did for king Solomon? Bible says God gave him rest on all sides. There is a rest for everyone in Christ. Bible says there remains a rest for the people of God. The solution for labor in the world is to be thirsty for the living water. Jesus said whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him, will never thirst again. In other words, he will be satisfied and fulfilled. He alone can bring a man to a place of rich fulfillment; a place that is moist and well-watered; a place that support nourishment and growth.

 

 Jesus said; “But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life”. (John 4:14) The Bible says blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled. So, satisfaction and fulfillment are a function of what and who you thirst after. So, when you thirst and hunger after righteousness, you shall be fulfilled and satisfied in life; no wonder the Scripture says seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Did we see that? So, there is a direct relationship between thirst, water, righteousness and satisfaction.

 

The Samaritan woman had been with several men yet none was her husband, but when Jesus looked at her, He said she was thirsty. And He gave us a secret right there when His disciples came to Him. He said my meat is to do. Did we see purpose there? Yes! His meat is to pursue the assignment, to align, and to pant after the father’s business. What His heart was preoccupied with was to do the work of the Father. He said lo I come in the volume of the books to do your will O God. So, Jesus deliberately started the conversation in reference to water and thirst.

 

Apostle Peter says beloved I wish above all things that you prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers. Just as man could be thirsty, the soul of man could also be thirsty. So, the place of rich fulfillment is the point where there is prosperity of the soul, where you flourish and prosper in all things including your soul.  How do I know this? Jesus said when you come to Him, you will find rest for your soul. (Matthew 11:29)

 

So, if satisfaction and fulfillment in life is in Jesus, how do I find Jesus?

Often times people ask questions such as; Does Jesus exist? Is He real? Where do I find Him? How do I find Him? What will I find in Him when I eventually find Him? When I find Him how do I know that I have found Him? As much as these questions seems personal, these are faith issues, but also a reflection of what religion looks like in our contemporary times.

 

The aim of this article is not to necessarily pick each of these questions and answering them one by one, but I believe at the end of this article it will be clear and obvious that Jesus can be found and accessed just as we saw in Jeremiah 29:13.

One of the ways to know that you have found Him when you have found Him is that you are satisfied, you are contented, there is a joy you can’t explain, you have peace that makes no sense to human understanding, no anxiety whatsoever, love will flood your heart; this is the place of rich fulfillment, this is the place of satisfaction. Seek Jesus today above everything else.

 

Jesus said I am standing at the door of your heart knocking if anyone opens the door, I will come to him and dine with him. (Revelations 3:20) This means that before you found Him, he found you. Bible says God demonstrated His love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. God first loved us in hope that we might grope for Him not in darkness. Before you loved and chose Him, He had chosen to love you unconditionally. Jesus said you didn’t choose Me I choose you that you may go and bear fruit and that your fruit may abound. As much as Jesus could be found, as much as Jesus loves us and he is available for us. If we refuse to believe Him, then it means we cannot find Him. So, in order to find Jesus, you just have to believe in your heart and confess him. This is how to believe in Him. Bible says whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. If you can confess Him and believe in your heart you will be saved. You have simply found Him. And as you do, treasure Him, and guard him jealously.

 

 

So, having found Jesus, does it mean I have found fulfillment and satisfaction in life?

The answer is yes. But there are levels to this. What you must then begin to do is to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow him. Following Him here talks about being acquainted with his suffering and carrying His burden; knowing Him, and the power of His resurrection. Apostle Paul asked Jesus during his encounter with Jesus, what would you have me do Lord? He didn’t ask the high priest, neither did he ask his father and mother or friends or siblings, they would have misled him. Bible says he conferred not with flesh and blood.

 

Satisfaction and fulfillment is the product of the revelation of Christ in your heart. For Apostle Paul it began with a question, the answer to that question made him find purpose and he was really satisfied and fulfilled even in the midst of the noise in his days. You can also make the difference, stand out for Jesus and His agenda and you will be brought to a place of rich fulfillment, a well-watered place in life and destiny. I like you to also look very carefully at the request of the Samaritan woman; she said “Sir, give me this water that I may not thirst nor come here to draw”. (John 4:15) such a profound request. With this understanding can you cry out to Jesus in prayers right now like the Samaritan woman and say Lord Jesus; give me this water to drink that I may thirst no more. Pray in the Holy Ghost in the mighty name of Jesus.

 

This was what Jesus meant when he said follow me and I will make you fishers of men. (Emphasis mine) the essence of rich fulfillment is to follow Jesus. It is not literally a water you drink physically; it is an attachment; to be equally yoked with Jesus, it is following him, and learning of Him. I would like you to know that the giver of the water is as important as the water. I am sure the Samaritan woman realized this. Both the water and the giver of the water are one. If you have found the giver of the water, you have found the water that never runs dry. And out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water.

 

A rich, fulfilling and satisfying life is not in the things that men pursue on a daily basis. As a matter of fact, the Bible says it is vain to rise up early in the morning to sleep late at night only to eat the bread of sorrow. Jesus said the life of a man does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. So, a rich, fulfilling and satisfying life is a life lived and driven by purpose, rooted in purpose and coming to the one who is the giver of purpose.

 

A rich fulfilling and rewarding life is a life spent on seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. A rich fulfilling and satisfied life is a life spent on drinking from the fountains of living water. The Bible says in John 7:37b, it says; “If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink.” Bible says in Isaiah 55:1, everyone that thirst should come to the waters. It didn't say ‘water’ as in singular, it says waters as in plural. Is this Scripture saying there are many waters? There could be many waters but Jesus is the expression of it. See what it says; whoever is thirsty let him come to the waters. So, it doesn’t matter how thirsty you are or what you are thirsty about, there is a water in Christ that can quench that thirst.   

 Ezekiel 43 verse 2 says – “And His voice was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with His glory.” See what Apostle John said in this regard in Revelations chapter 1 verse 15. It says; - “His voice was like the sound of many waters.” Truly Jesus is the waters, the river that never runs dry.

 

Accessing the waters that Jesus has is not the problem, the problem is men coming to Jesus. Men do not have problem with coming to God, but they have problem coming to Jesus. But Jesus said I Am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, to God except through Me. But it is not enough to come to God, it is not enough to come to Jesus, what relationship do you have with the Holy Spirit? Because, of a truth the Holy Spirit of Christ is the waters Jesus desires to give to every man. How did I know this? John 7 verse 38 says; he who believes in Me as the Scripture has said out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water. Then pay attention to verse 39, it says “But this He spoke concerning the Holy Spirit”.

So, for whatever you seek to quench your thirst in life, if you desire to be brought to the place of rich fulfillment, Jesus is the access in partnership with the Holy Spirit. Having found Jesus, having come to Jesus, He will give you the Holy Spirit. That is the greatest gift of God to mankind.

Thanks for the gift of your time, I am Apeh Francis Abah!

Feel free to share your thoughts or testimony in the comment box below. I promise to respond to them as soon as possible!