WHAT IS ETERNAL LIFE?

Many people do not know what Eternal Life is. Someone say, “Eternal life is living forever.” But that’s not it. No one ceases to exist when they die. We all live forever in either heaven or hell. Others say: “Eternal life is living forever in heaven instead of hell.” It is not. Many people wait to die before they think they will experience Eternal Life. But that is also a mistake. A Christian is defined as a person who has Eternal Life. We are all born sinners. Therefore, we totally lack the knowledge of Eternal Life. The ultimate purpose of Salvation is that we might have Eternal Life. It is the life of God, the highest quality of life, full of grace and glory. It is a knowing type of life. You know God the Father and God the Son. Eternal Life is a free gift of Grace, from God the Father and God the Son, given to those sinners who are justified by faith. Justification is not the same as eternal Life. Justification is like the clearing of the ground before you build your “house” called Eternal Life. It is a present possession. You don’t have to wait to die. You start to experience it immediately. It is perpetual. It goes on and on and on. It lasts forever. It reproduces itself with never-ending growth, power and beauty. It is totally resistant to sin and death. Nothing quenches it. Even when the Christian falls into sin and backslides, the Eternal Life in him goes on. It is Resurrection Life.

Eternal Life is synonymous with Jesus Christ. It is found only in Jesus Christ. It cannot be produced by men, bought or earned. Like any gift, it is wrapped in the Word of God. Faith in Jesus is the only key that opens this treasure. It is independent of time. It works both within time and outside time. Like Faith, it manifests thru the preaching of God’s Word. Like Agape Love, it manifests in total and joyful obedience to God’s commands. Eternal Life is free for us but very expensive to God, because Jesus paid for it with His precious Blood. It is the only Life that satisfies the thirsty soul. Eternal Life means going to heaven! Amen! In Greek, the word “eternal” life is “aionios”. It carries the idea of quality as well as quantity. It is a special life, a different quality of life, the life of God who is eternal. It’s an overflowing life, spiritually rich and satisfying, so great that it is more than you can possibly use. It is a life of “Fulness and Grace upon Grace” (Jn 1:16). This Eternal Life reproduces itself with a never-ending growth, power, beauty and variety. It is totally resistant to death. It has the highest glory. It begins now and continues forever. God gave us Eternal Life to share His Love. We said: “Go, we hate You!”, God said: “I love you!” Eternal Life is the greatest Gift given to man. Christ spoke easily about Eternal Life but did not try to define it. It means that His disciples knew already what Eternal Life is. The power, confidence, satisfaction, peace, joy and hope found in Eternal Life can’t be compared with any other.

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Jn 6:66-69). Here we see that some people do not receive the words of Eternal Life. They love the miracles of Jesus but not His words. But others, like Peter love and receive the words of Eternal Life given by Jesus Christ. At that time, there were many teachers. But none spoke with the authority of Jesus. None could give them words that have eternal impact. Peter knows that Jesus is unique. He is the Living Word, the Way, the Truth and the Eternal Life! To forsake Jesus means spiritual suicide. Like Peter, we too must be committed and follow Jesus to the end of life!

“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (Jn 17:1-3). We now study at “the gain” we have at the Cross. The Hour has come for Jesus to die, to pay with His Blood for our sins. A door of salvation has been opened for us to be saved by grace and through faith in Christ. This salvation comes as Eternal Life. Once a sinner is justified by faith, he receives Eternal Life.  

The devil does not want men to know about the great transaction that has happened at the Cross. Many Christians are looking depressed because they have not seen the value of this Eternal Life they have received. If Christians are looking sad, it means that the glory of God in salvation is reduced. “A growing population is a king’s glory; a prince without subjects has nothing” (PV 14:28; NLT). In ancient times, a king was considered glorious, strong, and stable if he had many subjects in his domain. If a king or a prince had no subjects, it meant that he had no power, stability, or influence. King Solomon ruled his kingdom well. Many foreigners become his subjects. Isreal was glorious. But his son, King Rehoboam became proud and lost 10 out of the 12 tribes under his authority. A spiritual leader should imitate the Lord Jesus who came to serve the people. Humble service to your followers will in turn give you strength, honor and resources. Ignoring the needs of the people brings a downfall. A healthy and growing church reflects the glory of God on earth.

Jesus is the Source of all Life. Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn 14:6). These are key concepts, each representing a unique aspect of Jesus’ divine role and mission. Jesus declares Himself as the only Mediator, the only way men can reconcile with God the Father. Jesus is not just a guide to God. He is the Way Itself, and the Progress on that Way. He is the exclusive path of righteousness and holiness that connects men and God. Jesus also declares Himself to be The Truth, the ultimate revelation of God to men. The glory of God is seen on the face of Christ (2Cor 4:6). He is the Word made flesh (Jn 1:14). “In Him was Life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men” (Jn 1:4; AMP). Jesus is God, the source of all life, temporal and eternal, physical and spiritual. Light means Truth, purity and divine revelation. The Light of Jesus scatters the darkness. Encountering the life and light of Jesus transforms men, leading them to spiritual maturity. We are to walk in the light, knowing the truth, with a clear spiritual vision and with a clean conscience. In Christ, Truth becomes Life and Freedom! Halleluiah!

God so Loved men that He gave them Life thru His Son. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16). God love the whole world, not only Israel. This offer of salvation is extended to all people, all over the world. Jesus is God’s One and Only Begotten Son. He is unique and precious to God. Salvation and Eternal Life is received by faith in Jesus Christ. This is not just mental acceptance. It is a deep spiritual faith that receives the revelation of God’s Word about His Son. Rejecting Jesus ends in perishing or eternal separation from God, also called spiritual death. Faith in Jesus is the sole requirement for receiving eternal life. Once we become saved, we share the Gospel to all people, all over the world. Eternal life starts working immediately you become born again. It cannot be quenched even if you backslide for a season. God’s child does not sin habitually. If he is deceived by the devil and falls into sin, God will discipline him. He will repent and come back to God to continue the race. This is the proven testimony of millions of Christians, to the glory of God!

Jesus is the Resurrection Eternal Life. Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies; and everyone who lives and believes in Me [as Savior] will never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn 11:25,26; AMP). Jesus tells Martha that He is the Resurrection and the Life. This is a profound declaration that Jesus is the Son of God, the source of all Life, both physical and spiritual. Faith in Jesus as your personal Savior takes away the fear of death. There is life after the physical death. Christians believe in eternal life after death, going to heaven, and the resurrection of our bodies when Jesus comes again. This is basic Christian doctrine that gives us the Living Hope. Jesus resuscitated Lazarus as a sign that He has complete authority over life and death. For the believers, death is not the end. Eternal life is stronger than death. This faith in Jesus gives us courage and hope.

NARROW GATE TO ETERNAL LIFE

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt 7:13, 14).

Our Lord confronts us with two gates leading to two different roads. There is a narrow gate, going to a difficult narrow road, leading to eternal life. The second gate is wide, going to a broad road, leading to destruction, or eternal death. The choice of gates is extremely important because it is the choice between life and death, between heaven and hell. We are all born sinners. It means that we are all born on the broad road. There are many people walking there. Some are religious. There is a crowd. There is noise, entertainment, singing and dancing. They think that they have a good life. The end of that road is in hell. The other gate is narrow. You come out from the broad road and must seek to find the narrow gate. You must make the effort to enter it. It is not easy to find and to enter the narrow gate. You must leave behind all the things you loved before you met Jesus, the worldly crowd, your family and friends. You must even leave yourself out, your way of thinking in the flesh, all your sinful baggage. Once you enter, the road remains narrow to the end. It will be impossible to love the old life. You must walk this road alone. Salvation is personal. It is a lonely road. Progress is made slowly, through dying to self. But this is the most glorious way of life any man can have. You are not totally lonely. Jesus, the good Shepherd walks this road and leads you on. His presence and fellowship are better than any other. This is the road of Eternal Life. Glory to God!

THE WOMAN HEALED AND THE GIRL REVIVED

This is the story of an unnamed woman who was bleeding for 12 years (Mark 5:21-43). She has spent all her money on doctors but has become worse. She is now poor, sick, hopeless, rejected by men and dying. She had faith that if she touched Jesus’ garment, she will be healed. Slowly, she made her way through the crowd. She came behind Jesus, touched His clothes and she was instantly healed. Jesus asked: Who Touched Me? Many pushed Jesus but none “touched” Him. The woman came to a place in life when she did not trust herself, doctors, or religious rulers. Her faith was in Christ alone! The woman confessed to her healing. Jesus calls her “daughter”. It means she was healed body and soul, at the same time. This is more than what she wishes for. Jesus felt the touch. He could have moved on but stayed to acknowledge the woman’s faith, her healing and her new status in society. The woman was sick for 12 years. She could have grown bitter against the doctors and against religious men who rejected her from the temple. But she discovered that God could use weakness and sickness to draw us closer to Him. She used her pain well! She kept her focus and faith in Jesus, and she was not disappointed.

At the same time, Jairus, a synagogue ruler, was waiting for Jesus to come to his house and to heal his 12 years old daughter who was also dying. People came to tell him that his daughter has died. Jesus said: “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well!” Jesus encouraged Jairus to have faith and to reject the voices of unbelief. Arriving to Jairus’ house, the people mocked Jesus when He said that the girl is not dead, only sleeping. Jesus told everyone to go outside. Jesus touched the girl’s hand and told her: “Little girl, arise!” She came back to life immediately. Jesus tells everyone to keep this miracle a secret because the unbelievers can hinder God’s work among men.

There are common points between these two healings. Both are female. Both are unclean, the woman because of sickness, and the girl because of death. Both are “daughters” to Jesus. Both are restored to life instantly among people who do not understand the miracles. Both miracles are more than physical healing. Jesus touched these two women, received them, encouraged them and gave them peace.

Lessons:

*Fight for your life, for your faith, for the answers to your prayers. Faith takes risks; overcomes fear and doubt. Faith perseveres. True faith arrests God’s attention. The woman touched the garment of Jesus, but Jesus said she touched Him!! He said: Who touched Me? The word “touch” means a deep connection to God’s power. The woman’s faith was not perfect. But Jesus accepted her imperfect faith and worked with it. The miracle was more than physical healing. It was healing the body and the soul. She became a daughter to Jesus and entered the Peace of God.

*Faith is vital for salvation and for experiencing miracles. God answers prayers of faith. Dream big! “Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us” (Eph 3:20; AMP). God is omnipotent. God’s power is not influenced by man’s weakness. He can do more than we ask or imagine. God is greater than our prayers. God’s power does miracles and also transforms us inwardly, to be witnesses for Jesus and to preach His Word. Cultivate a life or faith and expectancy, waiting for God to act, and trusting Him to work beyond our expectations. Separate yourself from the religious unbelievers when you pray for miracles. Call people who have faith in Jesus just like you and pray with them!

*During the trials of faith, learn to wait on God. Do not give up on God. God rewards faith. It is hard to see trials as good things, yet we can see through the darkness and pain the light of Jesus and the healing He can bring to our hearts and souls. You should know that you are beloved and known by God. Healing does not always look exactly like what we are hoping for. Sometimes healing looks like rejecting fear, or like interceding, the way Jairus did. Jesus touched and was touched. Love may come as a touch from a friend, in a moment of hopelessness, shame, or deep pain. By faith, pass thru the crowd of unbelievers, reach out and touch Jesus today. Ask for more of His Grace. Ask for wisdom! Pray for strength and courage! Let Christ find you wherever you are and meet you there, at your lowest lows or your highest heights. Worship the Lord!