“ETERNAL LIFE”

“And this is the promise that he made to us — eternal life.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:25‬

When you think of the term “eternal life,” what comes to your mind? Do you consider it a kind of life that never ends? Or do you see it as the continuation of life after death? What is the quality of this eternal life? Where do you spend it?

In yesterday’s blog, we learned that abiding in the truth of the Gospel is key to maintaining a healthy fellowship with God. Did you ever wonder why John would say such a thing? Why did he have to remind his readers of basic Christian doctrines? The answer: because false teachers, a.k.a. antichrists, have been trying to brainwash Christians, causing them to doubt their salvation. So, John wrote them a letter to remind them of the things they already knew.

John awakens their memories of the reality that they do have eternal life. The Greek word (“aionios”) for “eternal” means “without beginning and end,” or “that which always has been and always will be.” The eternal life that God promised believers is not bound by time and space. It does not start after death, nor does it mean the absence of death. It has no beginning and no end. In other words, eternal life is now.

This eternal life is God’s gift to those who come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). He can give it to people because He is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25). It is an offer given to anyone, but only those who receive the offer in faith actually obtain it (John 3:36).

Perhaps the most important question we need to address is this: where will we be spending eternal life? Believe it or not, unrepentant sinners will also have “eternal life,” in the sense that they will spend an eternity without all of the good things God graciously gives them. On the other hand, Christians will live forever and ever in God’s presence in His Kingdom. Here’s a glimpse of what awaits believers:

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22:1-5‬ ‭‬

This is eternal life. It’s waiting for you, only if you acknowledge your sinfulness, turn from it, and come to the Lord Jesus in faith. If you refuse God’s offer, He is too loving to force you into His presence against your will.

What is your response to God’s offer of eternal life?

Pursue the Savior today!