Abundant Life
John 10:10 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.
Abundant life. Some translations say satisfying or full. In a sermon I listened to recently from a local church that was not my home church, it was preached that God wants us to have several houses, money overflowing, nice cars. I have also heard it said that God, as our loving Father, wants us to have those same things we would want for our kids, such as a great education, successful careers, a spouse and kids.
Solomon in the Bible had it all. He was king, had riches beyond our dreams, he had the spouse (several of them), kids, and he was full of wisdom. Yet in Ecclesiastes 12:8, he writes, “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity.” Even with all he had, his life wasn’t satisfying or full. It was empty. He realized all the things of this world are temporary. They hold no value. They are worthless and futile.
If we look in the Bible at the followers of Christ, we see persecution, we see them dying for their faith. Was this promise of abundant life not meant for them? What about the Christians around the world today losing jobs, families and their lives because of their belief in Jesus? Is the promise not meant for them?
Or could it be that our enemy wants us to be so focused on the wrong things, those things that will never truly satisfy us, that we miss the real thing?
These things are not bad things, but they are not the abundant life Jesus talked about. We can spend our lives striving for the things that are temporary and end up never full, never satisfied. Or we can submit to Jesus, having Him first in our lives, and have life that is truly abundant.
The abundant life that Jesus gives contains peace and contentment no matter the circumstances going on in our lives and around us.
Philippians 4:7 says, “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” NLT
Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” NKJV
1 Timothy 6:6-7 “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
The abundant life Jesus promises gives us hope and eternal life.
In John 11:25, Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” NKJV
1 John 2:17 tells us, “And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” NLT
1 Peter 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.”
The abundant life Jesus promises satisfies and fills our once empty souls.
Jeremiah 31:25 “For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.”
Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
Revelation 21:6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of water of life freely to him who thirst.”
So many are searching and striving for things of this world to fill them, to satisfy them. But they keep searching and striving, never really satisfied, never filled. If this is you, take your eyes off the things of the world and enter into the true abundant life, the life that is found only in Christ.