John 3:16 tells us that when a person comes to God through faith in Jesus Christ, he "shall not perish, but have ETERNAL life." The word "eternal" refers not only to length of life but depth of life! It not only has to do with how long I live, but to how well I live!
1. Eternal Life Is Eternal In Quality!
Eternal life is not something I have to wait to experience in the next life! As one commercial slogan puts it, "The future is now!"
Because of my relationship with God through faith in Jesus, I now have an eternal provision to live on! Through Jesus Christ, we have all we need to live life to the fullest!
Jesus said, "I am come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly," (John 10:l0a KJV). Peter tells us that, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness," (2 Peter 1:3). The apostle Paul declared, "And my God will meet all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus," (Philippians 4:19).
When one enters into a personal relationship with God through faith in Christ, he finds that God makes available all the resources of heaven itself, in order to make it possible for a person to be fulfilled in life no matter what his situation in this world. There is a quality of life that can be known by the Christian, that the world knows nothing about. This is what Jesus was referring to when He told His disciples, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about," (John 4:32), and what Paul was talking about when he spoke of living life with the "peace of God, which transcends all understanding . . ." (Philippians 4:7)!
But just because one is in a position to be blessed by the provision of God, doesn’t mean he is taking advantage of all God has to offer. Augustine said that "God wants to give us something, but cannot, because our hands are so full - there’s nowhere for Him to put it."
When we feel as though God’s provision is missing from our lives, it is often because our hands are not open to receive because they are closed around something that we refuse to let go.
If we who know the Lord will commit to live for Him, He will provide us with all we need to live life to the fullest, no matter what the world might do to us. We can experience heaven on earth today.
Through our relationship with God through faith in Christ, we have been given an eternal provision to live by, and an eternal perspective to live with. By virtue of our personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we can see things in a way that the world can*t begin to comprehend. The world evaluates life in light of the "here and now," but the Christian can evaluate life in terms of eternity.
It has been estimated that around 90 million Americans wear lenses to correct their vision (I happen to be one of them). This is close to half the population of the United States. Glasses are essential to these Americans because correct vision is one of the most important aspects of life. Without glasses, many people (including me) could not drive, work at their jobs, enjoy sports, or watch television. They would, in fact, miss out on much of life.
As important as it is to be able to see the physical world around us, however, it is even more essential to be able to see spiritually. It is possible to be blind to spiritual matters and to miss out on what real life is all about. What is needed is correct vision. But glasses will not help this kind of vision problem. Only Christ can give us spiritual sight. Through our relationship with Him, we are enabled to see the world through His eyes, which gives us an entirely different perspective to live with.
As one who has a different perspective to live with, are you allowing the eternal view make a difference in your approach to life?
If a person driving an automobile were to only look at the center lines in the road just ahead of the car, he would not drive very safely. His view of the road would be "short-sighted," resulting in his being unable to anticipate what might be coming up. Consequently, he would be constantly unprepared for whatever might be "down the road."
Instead, the proper way to drive is to make sure you look up ahead and fix your eyes on the road about 100 yards or so ahead of you. That way, you will be prepared for whatever might be coming up and will drive more safely.
Through our relationship with God through Christ, we are in a position to be better prepared for whatever might be "down the road" because the spiritual insight He gives us. God knows what is coming "down the road." Therefore, as we live for Him, focusing our eyes on following Him, we can benefit from His eternal perspective and be better prepared for whatever life might bring our way.
Though we live in this world, through Christ we can see beyond this world, and that fact enables us to live life to the fullest, no matter what the world might do to us!
But not only does our relationship with God through Christ give us an eternal provision to live by and an eternal perspective to live with, but we are given an eternal purpose to live for!
Peter reminds us that, "you are a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light," (1 Peter 2:9).
On December 21, 1891, Dr. James Naismith invented basketball, "to lead other young men to Christ." According to sports historian Dr. Tony Ladd (who also happens to be Naismith’s grandson), the inventor of the game of basketball had spiritual motives. Naismith was both a physician and ordained minister. After joining the international YMCA training school in Springfield, Massachusetts, he faced the age-old problem of bored young men in winter. The cold prevented activity outside, and there were only a limited number of things that could be done indoors. Naismith felt it important to maintain the boys’ interest, because he thought exercise was a perfect way to keep young men fit and on the straight and narrow path.
On that December day, Dr. Naismith received the inspiration for a game that almost became "boxball." The 30-year-old physician/minister asked the janitor to secure two boxes that could be used for goals. The janitor could only find a couple of peach baskets, so Naismith "improvised" and had him mount them on the gym railing, which was 10 feet high. Within an hour, the good doctor had created 13 rules and started the new game with a soccer ball. The game spread rapidly, and Naismith was content. James Naismith never patented the game or made any money from it. He simply relished the satisfaction of providing another vehicle to help "in training the mind, body and soul for the good of God."
It is an interesting footnote to learn that Dr. Naismith had an eternal purpose in mind when he invented the game of basketball. And from the game of basketball, we have an illustration of how having purpose in living makes a difference in how we live. How much fun would basketball be if there were no goals? Likewise, life lived in connection to the eternal purpose of bringing glory and honor and praise to the King of kings and Lord of lords, is a life lived to the fullest, no matter what the world might do to us!
Lastly, through the relationship we can have with God through faith in Jesus Christ, we receive an eternal provision to live on, an eternal perspective to live with, an eternal purpose to live for, and an eternal power to live by!
Our world today is quite confused about the true meaning of success. There seem to be two factors that drive the world perception of success - the "feel-good" factor and the "look-good" factor. If a person does not feel good or look good, he sees himself as being a failure. His understanding of success in life is focused on what the world says and centered on meeting his own needs.
But the Bible would have us understand that true success, as George W. Truett reportedly defined it, is "knowing God’s will and being in the center of it." True success in life comes from being focused on what God says and centered on meeting the needs of others. Rather than being driven by the "feel-good" factor and the "look-good" factor, God calls us to be driven by the "be-good" factor and the "do-good" factor.
How can we adjust our lives so that we might be true successes? Through Christ, we have received eternal power to live our lives as genuine successes. Through Him, we can know God’s will and be in the center of it! By His power, we can "be good" and "do good."
Speaking of the power God gives us to live by, Paul said, "The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it," (1 Thessalonians 5:24). In Philippians 4:13, he testified, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." In other words, Paul sought to let us know that through our relationship with God through faith in Jesus, we have access to an eternal power by which we can fulfill God*s eternal purpose for us, live by the perspective of heaven, and experience, to the fullest, God’s eternal provision, no matter what the world might do to us!
2. Eternal Life Is Eternal In Quantity!
Eternal life is ours to begin experiencing today! But the new life we receive through faith in Christ is also eternal in quantity.
Not only can the child of God enjoy having an eternal provision to live on, an eternal perspective to live with, an eternal purpose to live for, and an eternal power to live by in this life (which he may or may not take advantage of), but he knows that in the next life he will forever enjoy these blessings as he dwells in the presence of his Savior for all eternity! Now, my experience of the fullness of eternal life fluctuates according to the nature of my fellowship with and obedience to God while I am here on earth, but in heaven, my fellowship with and my obedience to God will be perfect! Therefore, I will know perfectly all that is mine to experience of eternal life!
Think of it! In the next life it is guaranteed that I will forever enjoy God’s provision, understand things from God’s perspective, share in His eternal purpose for all creation by giving glory and praise to my King, and forever know the reality of God’s power and majesty!
Oh what joy we will know in the presence of our Lord! You know, when I am in the presence of someone I cannot stand, two minutes can seem like two hours! But when I am in the presence of someone I love, two hours can seem like only two minutes! Because of the joy I know in their presence, I cannot get enough of them! That’s the way eternity will be for all who know Christ as their personal Savior! Forever, in the presence of the One we love, we will enjoy the eternal life that is ours in Him! As Issac Watts expressed it, "When we*ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun; we*ve no less days to sing God’s praise, than when we’d first begun!"
A man was dying in the desert. As he stumbled over a sand dune, he was greeted by a man selling ties. The dehydrated man begged for water, but the salesman said he only had ties. In frustration and anger, the weakened man continued on his journey for survival. Within an hour he reached an isolated restaurant in the middle of the desert. At first he thought he was hallucinating, but as he drew closer he knew it was real. He was ecstatic. With renewed energy he picked himself up and ran for the door. He was stopped at the entrance by a security guard who denied him entry. The guard said, "I’m sorry, sir, but you need a necktie to eat here."
Have you given your life to Christ? You must have Jesus as your Savior in order to gain entrance into heaven one day and have eternal life today! Why not settle the matter right now? A right relationship with God is only a prayer away. If the following reflects the desire of your heart, why not offer it as a prayer to God right now?
Dear Lord Jesus,
I admit that I am guilty of sin and stand condemned before You. But I thank You that You came to deliver me from the burden of my sin and the bondage of Satan. I want to acknowledge You, Jesus, as my Savior and my God. I know I cannot be right with You on my own, so I accept the payment You made for my sin through Your death on the cross, and I place my faith and trust in You alone for my eternal salvation. Thank You for not only dying for me, but for being raised from the dead for me. Come into my life right now through Your Holy Spirit and take over. I want to turn from living for myself and want to live my life only for You. I choose this day to look to You for all I need in this life and the next. I want to live with Your perspective, for Your purpose, and by Your power. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Amen.
