Eternal Life

Owing to my basic understanding of the words ‘Eternal Life’, which I actually never gave a thought of in the recent past and majorly picked up only from verses in the Bible and/or my Sunday School teachers (and yes Comic too) as a kid. My broadest and general perception of the word ETERNAL LIFE was

a LIFE afterlife

where all things seemed white, with golden gates, endless trail of peace, harmony, music, WINGS. Basically, I amassed everything that could fit into that single moment of imagination when Priyanka asked me to pen down a few words on it.

Google and many other website (almost all) had biblical references and definition not a bit surprising, but Wikipedia provides a biblical definition and also a loose reference on a synonymous word called Immortality. 

The definitions as are follows –

Biblical definition - In Christianity, the term eternal life traditionally refers to continued life after death, as outlined in Christian eschatology. The Apostles' Creed testifies: "I believe... the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting." In this view, eternal life commences after the second coming of Jesus and the resurrection of the dead, although in the New Testament's Johannine literature there are references to eternal life commencing in the earthly life of the believer, possibly indicating an inaugurated eschatology.

Immortality (Synonym) - is eternal life or the ability to live forever. Biological forms have inherent limitations that medical interventions or engineering may or may not be able to overcome. Natural selection has developed potential biological immortality in at least one species, the jellyfish Turritopsis dohrnii. Certain scientists, futurists, and philosophers, have theorized about the immortality of the human body, and advocate that human immortality is achievable in the first few decades of the 21st century, whereas other advocates believe that life extension is a more achievable goal in the short term, with immortality awaiting further research breakthroughs into an indefinite future.

Well guess I was partially right even as a child to think and believe in Life afterlife – believe in Christ. It may not sound profound or foundational to many simply because people do not know what the Bible tries to tell us when it speaks of Eternal life.

Excerpts from the Bible indicating Eternal life –

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Matthew 25:46 “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
John 6:40 “For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day."

John 10:28 “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

1 John 5:13 “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

John 17:3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

So what exactly is Eternal life?

Many people have mistakenly thought and linked Eternal life with Immortality, the mythical exploration of Fountain of Youth said to restores the youth of anyone who drinks or bathes in its waters and even in some recent advances of science such as Plastic surgery, Botox injections in face, Chinese medicinal herbs, Cryonics (the low-temperature preservation of humans who cannot be sustained by contemporary medicine, with the hope that healing and resuscitation may be possible in the future). But that’s not the thing.

Eternal life is living forever, yet no one ceases to exist when they die. Everyone lives forever in heaven, that’s the beauty of accepting Lord our Savior Jesus Christ. The choice of going to Heaven or hell is with YOU and me. Eternal life begins the moment a person exercises his faith in Christ. Believers don’t have to “wait” for eternal life, because it’s not something that starts when they die.

It is clearly written in the scriptures, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.” John 3:36. As you read this you know Eternal life is a present-tense, you and I have this readied platter served with the word of God and all you need to do is guzzle it down your gullet.

For this reason, eternal life can be thought of as something that Christians experience now.

  

How can I have eternal life? Where do I Begin?

John 17:3 says, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

This Lenten season, use your time to come close to Lord our Savior Jesus Christ. Confess your sin before God. Repent for all your sins. Turn away from evil by putting God’s will before our own earthly materialistic desires. Put his word into practice. Make God your primary focus and you take a lesser role. And YES, unless you read the Bible for yourself, you will NEVER come into contact with certain truths of God.

FINALLY, talking from one’s point of few and sharing my opinion is rather easy and even easier is reading what I expressed and understand it. The hardest part is to imbibe them into oneself, into your daily time table and follow through it, stick to it like glue, making it like your gym time, your shopping time, your daily sob soap time, your party time, your friend's time just with little more Importance and commitment.

Sometime ago when I was in search of the meaning of lent and how I found it difficult to totally give into above mentioned steps, I came across an article from Rev. Penny Ford, a pastor of UMC church at Carrollton, Alabama. I figured she knew the so called next gen Youths and their lack of commitment towards all things biblical and hence she urged young minds to start at a snails pace and try social fasting and converting that time towards God to get closer to Him.

Go ahead pick one or pick a few. Get started today so you know the true meaning of Lent tomorrow and in the bargain achieve ETERNAL LIFE.

THINGS YOU CAN TRY FOR THE LENTEN SEASON

10. Try an electronic fast. Give up TV, Guitar Hero, texting, tweeeting, e-mail and all things electronic for one day every week. (or everyday of Lent!) Use the time to read & pray.

9. Start a prayer rhythm. Say a prayer every time you brush your teeth, or check your e-mail. Before you text someone, pray for them.

8. Read one chapter in the Bible each day. (Matthew's a good book to start with. Psalms, too.)

7. Forgive someone who doesn't deserve it (maybe even yourself.)

6. Give up soft drinks, fast food, tea or coffee. Give the money you save to help folks in crisis.

5. Create a daily quiet time. Spend 30 minutes a day in silence and prayer.

4. Cultivate a life of gratitude. Write someone a thank you letter each week and be aware of how many people have helped you along the way.

3. Be kind to someone each day.

2. Pray for others you see as you walk or drive to and from work.

1. Volunteer one hour or more each week with a local shelter, tutoring program, nursing home, prison ministry.

Happy Reading

Author - Richie Kamble