Imagine being in your favorite place in all the world. Are you sitting under a palm tree on the shore of a white sandy beach with blue waves beckoning you to come join them? Are you sipping sweet raspberry lemonade while letting the warm sun caress your face? “Ah! This is the life,” you sigh. You think, could this be the abundant life the Bible speaks about?
Or do you have your hiking boots on climbing Oberg Mountain on Minnesota’s North Shore to gaze at the breathtaking panoramic view of a multitude of trees adorned in their colorful, fall wardrobe? The breeze brings the earthy fragrance of autumn. You inhale deeply and say, “Ah! This is the life.” You wonder, is this like the abundant life the Bible talks about?
Or are you craning your neck out the tour bus window as it makes its way through the narrow streets of Boston to the ferry that will take you from Wood’s Hole to Martha’s Vineyard? Anticipation rises as you embark on the ferry to the island’s sights of rolling hills, wildflower fields, miles of unspoiled coastland, shops to satisfy your every shopping need, and then a leisure stroll past the elegant and historic homes of Edgartown. You ask yourself, “Could the abundant life the Bible declares be any better than this?”
But then, disaster strikes! A tsunami rises from the water like the 
beast from the Black Lagoon sending you fleeing for your life. You think nothing of grabbing your things – just your survival.
Or you smell smoke and realize Oberg Mountain has turned into a blazing forest fire consuming everything in its path. You scramble back to the logging trail gasping for air as you try to escape the fire and smoke.
Or an electrical panel shuts down the ferry midway to the island, lights go out, and fire erupts in the engine room. The captain shouts that hurricane Bob changed its course from going out to sea to heading straight for Martha’s Vineyard. You say to yourself, I would give anything now to have the abundant life that the Bible talks about.
Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that you may have life more abundantly.” (John 10:10) In the three scenarios above, we see that life and happiness of mankind are temporary and can be destroyed in a moment. So then, what is this abundant life?
For starters, abundant life is not unhappy and disappointed people filled with emptiness looking for answers or ways to fix things so they will be happy. Abundant life is filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Abundant life gives a higher quality of life on earth and then in heaven, it will become complete and perfect.
Money cannot buy it, nor does it depend on outward circumstances in order to exist. Abundant life is living life to the fullest enjoying fellowship with God through Jesus Christ and discovering everlasting joy which far surpasses temporary happiness. Nothing can destroy the “Ah,-this-is-the-life moment!” nor can anything rob a believer of the joy within.
If you have not experienced the abundant life, listen to the One, namely Jesus Christ, who came to give abundant life to all who would believe. Bonus: eternal life in indescribable joy with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the angels, and all believers.