98. Life Abundant
John 10:10 I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.
Jesus came to our earth to give us life, and that life that He gives is more abundant, that is, we live life more abundantly. What does more mean? Apparently, life is not just an on or off switch, that one is either alive or dead, but there are degrees of living, more life or less life. He gives a fuller life than we had before He came, or a better and fuller life than living without Jesus.
One understanding of a more abundant life is that the life He gives is eternal; it is without death and without end. If life is without end it is fuller and richer and more abundant. But “abundantly” must mean more than that it is simply eternal. It does mean fuller, richer, more satisfying and being more alive. It means that in spite of the devil and sin and death stealing and diminishing life we will enjoy life to the full anyway. Death with its diseases, sin with its guilt, and the devil with his demons cannot rob my life of true joy and inner peace. The inner man grows stronger and gets renewed day by day.
This is a promise from Jesus that I have and can claim daily; nothing and no one can take it away or make it less abundant. The life of God that resides within my spirit is rich and full and powerful and continues to make my spirit and body smile and sing and whistle. The inner life is stronger than the attacks on body and mind; the Gospel repels these attacks and continually gives abundant life. I believe the promise and apply it to the present need and situation.