Abundant Life

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that (you) may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” (John 10:10 AMP)

What is abundant life? What does it mean to have life to the full until it overflows? What does it mean to live a “good life”? Does it mean that we never face heartache or troubles? Does it mean we live a life of lollipops and Disneyland? By no means!

How can you appreciate the sun unless you’ve experienced the rain? How do you know what joy is unless you’ve felt sorrow? What is night if it is not contrasted by day? How could you enjoy your favorite meal/dessert/beverage unless you’ve eaten something you couldn’t stand? What is success unless there is failure?

We have to get off of this mindset that “good” is all whip cream and fluff. “Good” is so much deeper than the surface of happiness and ease. Think about some scenarios. We all know it’s “good” to eat our vegetables, why? Because they offer vital nutrients to our bodies. We know that it’s “good” to exercise and workout, why? Because it strengthens our muscles and builds our immune systems, enhancing our overall sense of wellbeing. But who ever said eating your greens was easy? Who hasn’t experienced some type of soreness, waddling up and down stairs, after a hard workout!

There is no victory unless you’ve had to overcome some obstacle or enemy, right? Moreover, you can’t “win” unless you’ve fought against an opponent, who was bent on making you lose.

It’s “good” to win; it’s “good” to feel “good;” it’s “good” to eat your favorite meal; it’s “good” to succeed…but “good” is not just the victory – it includes the pain it took to win it. “Good” is not just the success – it intimates the failure you overcame to achieve it.

Yes, Christ said that He came to give us abundant life, but He also said, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world!” (Jn. 16:33) Trouble comes in this life that Christ overcame – it’s apart of the picture of abundant life. Abundant life is more than a life of ease – it is a life of victory, of conquering, of overcoming. But these three things are only obtained by having to face, and defeat, trouble, heartache, pain, and trial. We have an abundant life in Christ – and it means walking the road He walked…a road of victory over pain and trouble.

“…in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us…” (Rom. 8:37)