An Abundant Life

God’s promise of an abundant life in Jesus

Jesus provides an abundant linfe. In John 10:10, Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” The context in which this verse appears is a discussion of the Lord’s role as the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-17). In this discussion, Jesus made many important points about how He interacts with His “sheep” (you and me).

• The Good Shepherd is not a thief, so He enters the sheepfold through the door.
• He knows the names of His sheep and His sheep recognize His voice (John 10:1-5).
• Jesus also described Himself as the Door through which His sheep enter into His fold (the church). Everyone else who pretends to be the Messiah is a thief and a robber, who wants only to destroy the sheep (John 10:7-10).
• The Good Shepherd cares about His sheep, and would lay down his life for them. A hireling (also a Messianic pretender) will not give his life for the sheep. That is something that only the Good Shepherd will do (John 10:11-14).

However, I want to focus on Jesus’ statement in the latter part of John 10:10. What is an abundant life? What did Jesus promise, when He promised to His sheep, life more abundantly?

The English word, “abundantly” is translated from a Greek word, which means, “exceedingly; above measure.” It is used again in Ephesians 3:20, which says, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” One of the central ideas of this passage is that God is capable of doing things that we haven’t even thought of yet. Why, then, should we limit our prayers to meager requests for God’s help with this, or that? Christians ought to learn to think big, dream big of an abundant life, and make bold requests of our God, who is able to exceed our expectations and bless us even beyond our capacity to receive blessing (Malachi 3:10).

The promise of an abundant life, therefore, is the promise of a life that exceeds our expectations and surpasses what we might think of as reasonably good. As Christians, we are blessed with certain assurances, which make life on Earth a much more pleasant prospect than it might be otherwise (Ephesians 1:3). For example, the assurance of eternal salvation gives us an inner peace, which the world cannot even comprehend (Philippians 4:7). Also, the assurance of God’s providence at work in our lives comforts us, when times are tough (Matthew 6:25-34). Finally, the assurance of knowing what will happen to us when we die helps us not be afraid of death, so that we can embrace all that life has to offer us (Revelation 14:13). These concepts all contribute to living an abundant life. Christians have much to live for, in this world, and they have much to look forward to, in the next (Philippeans 1:21).

Not only does living for Jesus benefit us here, but it also benefits us in the hereafter. What faithful Christians have to look forward to in eternity is such an abundant life it defies human description. John’s vision of Heaven, in the Revelation, was something that was unlike anything he had ever seen on Earth. He used the words “like” and “as” so many times in the book of Revelation, because he was trying to describe in Earthly terms something that transcends life in this world. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John say the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4) John told us about Heaven by telling us what is not there: death, sorrow, crying, and pain. These are things which can make life on Earth miserable, therefore they do not exist in Heaven!

An abundant life is something that is promised to every Christian, so let us resolve to lay claim to our share of it. Let us rejoice in all the blessings with which the Father so abundantly blesses us (Philippeans 4:4). Let us trust in the blessed assurance of the promises that God has made to all who will yield to His will (2 Peter 3:9). Let us look forward to the prospect of an eternal home in Heaven, and allow this hope of eternal life to be the anchor, which keeps our souls steadfastly secured to our Lord and Savior (Hebrews 6:19).

May we all live an abundant life, victoriously, and triumphantly, in this present world!