It was only from Jesus’s mouth, that we realized that there is a higher version of Life. All that we ever knew, was life. Jesus came and He spoke the truth, saying, I have come to give them life in abundance.My emphasis is not only about life but the real higher and better version of life, life in abundance. Jesus said, I am come that you might have life and that you might have it abundantly. Therefore the emphasis is on the premium, extra, beyond the reach of average, over and above, surplus, all explaining ‘abundance’.
We have been deceived for long, held in the chains of darkness, that this is life. That there is no other life than this one you are living. But we groan, that deeper feeling in us crying out that there should be more to this. We are not wrong to desire more, we just may not only have the answer. Our cry is for more, the more that marks the difference. Whatever it is that brings contentment, the joy, the peace, the right-standing, the fulfillment, the purpose, the purity and the quickening. It is higher than just living, it is the premium of life, found in Christ Jesus.
Everywhere Jesus was invited or ministry took Him to, all he ensured to do as His Primary assignment was to give abundant life to those who were oppressed by the enemies. Those whose life has been stolen away, and given ordinary shadow to live with. Jesus first gives them back life and tops it up with abundance. It is at this point that the cup starts running over, because of the extra.
Without mincing words, I make bold to tell you that not to have abundant life is the highest order of oppression. It is living below capacity. It makes one’s life to lack color and beauty. Most times it brings delay and slows down one’s pace. But the moment you receive the abundant life of Christ through His Words and live in obedience to it, you are on your way to a non-negotiable dignity. The question is, are you truly ready to receive what He came to offer you? Of course, He is not the only one on stage, the thief is there also, offering all manner of things to trap, kill and destroy. But I urge you today to embrace and receive the abundant life of Christ packaged in the obedience of His Word and you shall find joy for your soul.
Remember, ‘He is come to give, you must also come to receive.
Let me end this with the words of Paul to the Church in Rome; For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) {by one man’s…: or, by one offence} Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. {by the offence…: or, by one offence} {by the righteousness…: or, by one righteousness} For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.