What is eternal life?

WHEN WE think of eternal life, we often associate it with something that comes after our physical bodies die. But life everlasting does not start at the resurrection. The most popular Scripture in the world declares, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV).

Death is a problem without the saving work of Jesus, and sin stood in our way ever ready to reward us with its wage. God did not abandon us to torment and punishment. He sent Jesus who willingly stood in our place, and took His wrath and gave us eternal life. So those who believe in Jesus have eternal life now.

Eternal life is both a quantity and a quality of life that comes from Jesus. It’s life that never ends; it’s everlasting. It’s also life that’s abundant and full. Jesus said, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:10 (NLT). God wants everyone to look to Jesus, and believe in Him, because they will have eternal life now. Jesus is the giver of eternal life and came to bring this rich and satisfying life to us, more and better life than we’ve ever dreamed, making us fully alive forever.

THIS SIDE OF ETERNITY

If you’ve accepted Jesus as Saviour, you already have eternal life. It began the moment you believed, not when you die. It starts on this side of eternity and continues forever. When our physical bodies die, as believers, we simply transition to another phase of our eternal life. The Book of Revelations tells us, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away’.” Revelation 21:1-4 (ESV)

We will transition again after we receive our resurrected bodies, and will live on a new earth. Heaven will come to earth and God will live with us. “They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 22:4-5 (NIV).

There’s going to be a new earth fit for God to live in. It will be a place of bliss, beyond what we can imagine. God Himself will live there, actively caring for us. “He will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore”. Living will be different. Isaiah 11:6-9 gives us a description of what it will be like. We will live every day in the powerful presence of God.

If you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour, you’re already living the abundant quality and quantity that is eternal life.