When Jesus talked about giving us eternal life, most of us tend to think of something that begins later — after this life is over, when we’re in heaven. “Eternal” sounds like something that comes after time.

But I think that misses something essential.

Jesus also said He came so that we might have abundant life, or as some translations put it, life to the full.

Notice the tense: have. Not “will have.” Not “one day will experience.”

Jesus wasn’t just promising us a future reality — He was inviting us into a present one.

Eternal Life Begins Now

Eternal life isn’t merely a reward waiting for us beyond the grave. It’s a relationship with God that begins the moment we place our trust in Christ.

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

Jesus, in John 17:3 (NIV, emphasis added)

That word now is crucial. Eternal life doesn’t begin someday; it begins the moment we begin truly knowing God.

And the more we know Him — the more we walk with Him daily, in little moments throughout our days — the more we experience the fullness of that life. It’s not just about duration (life that never ends); it’s about quality (life that is abundant, purposeful, joyful, and rooted in love).

What Abundant Life Is — and Isn’t

When Jesus promised abundant life, He wasn’t talking about mansions, sports cars, or the latest gadgets. There’s nothing wrong with material blessings, but those things were never meant to define abundance.

Abundant life is not about the abundance of possessions — it’s about the abundance of God’s presence.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

Jesus, in Matthew 6:19–20 (NIV)

Jesus Himself lived a simple life — often without a home, wealth, or comfort. Yet His life overflowed with abundance because He was perfectly aligned with the Father’s will.

So, what does a biblical view of abundant life look like?

It looks like gratitude.
It looks like trust.
It looks like contentment.
It looks like recognizing and celebrating God’s daily blessings.

Living Abundantly in Everyday Life

We experience abundant life when we slow down enough to notice what God has already given us — and when we thank Him for it.

Do you have a job — a way to support yourself and your family?
Thank God for the abilities and opportunities He’s given you. Even if you don’t love your job, gratitude can change your attitude. I’ve found that when I start thanking God for something that frustrates me, it begins to frustrate me less.

Do you have family or friends who love and care about you?
They are gifts from God. Working through challenges with them, and with God, often turns our hardest seasons into some of our most meaningful memories. And similar to jobs, I’ve found that when I thank God for someone who has been frustrating me, they begin frustrating me less, or even not at all. It becomes increasingly difficult to harbor bitter feelings for someone you are praying for regularly. That’s another of God’s mysterious blessings.

And what about the beauty that surrounds you?
I live in a beautiful part of Florida, and I make it a point to spend time outside — to soak in the sunshine, the fresh air, the songs of the birds, and the rhythm of the sea.

Every time I take in those gifts of nature, I’m reminded that God is the Master Artist. While I may work hard to keep my garden and landscaping beautiful, He effortlessly paints sunsets, nurtures sequoias, and fills the world with color and sound.

When was the last time you paused long enough to really see the beauty of creation — and thanked the Creator for it?

Finding Abundance in Difficult Seasons

You may be going through a hard time right now. Or perhaps you’ve just come out of one — or are heading into another. Life is full of seasons, and not all of them are easy.

But abundant life isn’t limited to the good times. In fact, sometimes we discover it most clearly in the hard ones.

Even when the road feels long, when grief lingers or uncertainty looms, we can still experience daily doses of eternal life by remembering this:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17 (NIV)

When we take time each day to notice our blessings — and to thank the Giver of all good things — we start to see that abundance is already all around us.

And that’s what Jesus meant by life to the full. It’s eternal life, experienced one grateful moment at a time.