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It’s harvest time, in which the lavish bounty of the Lord is evident all over the world. Paul spoke of this rich generosity of God to the pagans in Lystra, how God satisfied them with rain from heaven and fruitful seasons (Acts 14:17). Tracing out the theme of abundance in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ is even more satisfying.
Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana in Galilee. John’s account tells us that the water was contained in six stone jars, each holding between twenty and thirty gallons. Jesus instantly changed that volume of water into the highest-quality wine—perhaps more than 150 gallons of it. Lavish abundance! So also, when Jesus fed five thousand men (plus women and children) with five loaves and two fish, all those people ate their fill—their hunger was completely sated. And there were twelve basketfuls of broken pieces in abundance. Again, in the parable of the prodigal son, as the wayward son thought of his father’s estate, he said that his father’s laborers had “bread enough and to spare” (Luke 15:17, KJV). When it came to the ministry of the Word, Jesus said that any faithful hearer was like good soil that produced thirty-, sixty-, even a hundredfold more than was sown. And He also said concerning those who understand the Word that “more will be given, and he will have an abundance” (Matt. 13:12). In other words, their insights and knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom will keep growing and growing beyond anything they could have imagined. So also, the rewards of those who are generous here on earth will be poured out on them in good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over into their laps (Luke 6:38). And most famously, Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).
These displays of abundance point to heaven. God is an infinite being, and His kingdom has no limits. Isaiah 9:7 says, “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end”—literally, no boundary, no limit. The word “increase” in the Hebrew means “abundance,” as in a rich harvest. Since heaven is about the glory of God, there is always vastly more of God than we have received. Even when we’ve been there for a thousand eons of heavenly time, there will still be an abundance of God yet to discover, an abundance of God’s glory yet to see. The wine of His goodness will flow freely, the bread of His table will never fail, the richness of His bounty will be poured out into our perfected souls always more and more and more. We will drink of the perfect wine at the wedding banquet with no dissipation but only ever more joyful perception. We will feast on the bounty of His wisdom until we are full; then we will be ready for more when that portion has been absorbed. Perfect abundance. Forever.