TIL IT OVERFLOWS!

By: Dennis Harworth

One very hot summer when my children were little, I bought an above ground pool to keep them cool (and me too).  I decided not to get the small plastic “blowup” pool because the water was too shallow to stay cold in the hot summer sun and the bottom or sides would get easily punctured.  We ended up with an extraordinarily large round pool that was on clearance for a great price.  I am guessing the size is probably why it was a fraction of the price of smaller pools.  It was so much larger than we really wanted; taking up most of the back yard.  An installation crew was hired and by late afternoon of the same day, all the pool needed was just to add water.  I put the garden hose into the middle of it and turned the water on full blast.  About an hour later the temperature was still hovering in the mid-90’s.  So, we put our bathing suits on, grabbed some towels and went outside to take our first dip in our new pool. 

What a disappointment to find only a few inches of water covering the bottom!  Making sure the water was kept on throughout the night; I was hoping the kids could swim the next day.  Early in the morning I rushed outside only to find the pool 1/3 of the way full.  Talk about a test of patience.  I had to reassure my children over and over (and over) again that they would have to just wait one more day.  The following morning, to my surprise, the entire circular pool was not only filled, but was overflowing with even sheets of water down the sides.  (This was long before infinity pools were popular).  The summer was saved along with many more years of memories and enjoyment.

The memories of that summer came flooding back as I was reading a scripture of the kind of abundant life Jesus came to give.  I have read and even quoted this verse hundreds of times.  The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance to the full, till it overflows (John 10:10 AMPC).  It is so amazing how the God’s Word is infinite.  No matter how many times a verse is read, the Lord will continue to reveal the depths of truth from His Word if we are willing to listen.  I would like to share some of the things the Lord showed me.

First of all, the Lord used this verse to contrast life with the incident of the swimming pool.  An empty pool is like an empty life, it brings nothing but disappointment and frustration.  A full life is enjoyed with satisfaction, pleasure, and the blessing of God.  The devil tries to keep your life restricted or constricted, but it is Jesus who gives us life that’s freely overflowing. The thief tries to steal the Word or take your life; Jesus gives you an abundant life, to the full, till it overflows.

This is simple, yet profound, but the Lord did not want me to stop there.  I dug into His Word and discovered there are many ways to overflow in abundance.  I found that similar words for “abundant” can also be translated “overflow” in various translations.  I then realized anything from God can be overflow to us in abundance.  Since the topic of abundance is mentioned in over 140 verses; here are only ten verses of overflow in your life from God that you can enjoy:

COMFORT through Christ comfort (consolation and encouragement) is also [shared and experienced] abundantly by us. (2 Corinthians 1:5, AMPC)

COMPENSATION  I am your Shield, your abundant compensation, and your reward shall be exceedingly great. (Genesis 15:1, AMPC)

FAITHFULNESS     great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:23, AMPC)

FORGIVENESS    For He will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7, KJV)

GOODNESS   The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth (Exodus 34:6, KJV)

GRACE    And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant (1 Timothy 1:14, NKJV)

JUSTICE   He is excellent in power, in judgment and abundant justice  (Job 37:23, NKJV)

KINDNESS   But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness… (Nehemiah 9:17 NKJV)

MERCY   You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy (Psalm 86:5 NKJV)

PROSPEROUS   the Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous (Deuteronomy 30:9 AMPC)

Your life does not consist of the abundance of your earthly possessions (Luke 12:15).  However, you can experience in your life all that God possesses. It is truly a life of overflow that is richly promised to you!  Dig into God’s Word and continue to fill your life with it.  You will be blessed beyond measure as you take pleasure in the abundant life Jesus promised.  For truly He came so that you may have and enjoy life – in abundance, to the full, TILL IT OVERFLOWS!