Pastor’s Thoughts – 07-06-2025

We know that all of us regardless of our age face the reality of our physical death. It is only in the Bible that we find the great comfort expressed by Paul; “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor. 15:54). He says, “Where oh death, is your sting” (1 Cor. 15:55)? He is saying that death, with all of its terrible ramifications and sense of painful finality is likened to the bite of a poisonous snake that has been de-fanged so that, just as the snake, death can no longer inflict what it once could. There is unequivocally no greater news than this. This is the cure above all cures. Those who are found under this cure have in effect found the proverbial fountain of youth only really much more. The Bible unashamedly promises this truth brought about through the Lord Jesus Christ and faith in Him. The phrase, “eternal life” or “everlasting life” is the translation from Greek of zoe (life), and aionion (eternal) which is found throughout the New Testament and particularly in the writings of John more than one hundred times. The idea of zoe is that which makes us alive and aionion refers to its duration as being infinite. The promise of eternal life is a futuristic eclipse of all the finite temporary boundaries which now exist in our present world. To possess “eternal life” is promised in Scripture as an unbreakable fellowship with the infinite God that continues into a timeless future existence.

Our Lord Jesus Himself provides the best definition in His High Priestly Prayer. He says, “This is life eternal, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, who You have sent” (John 17:3). Eternal life then is expressing an existence beyond anything in this life where we, as recipients, have a unique and binding relationship with God Himself. The idea Christ addresses as, “know You” is the Greek word ginosko which means to know absolutely, or to know therefore relationally. This promise means that throughout eternity we will be existing in a glorified state whereby we are in a continuous glorious relationship with God the Father and the Son.

Eternal life is also understood by contrast with our physical life in this fallen world. To have eternal life as described in Scripture is something that overcomes the limits of our temporary physical life both by duration and quality. The absence of eternal life is an unsaved life, even though all people ever created will continue to exist eternally. The Bible’s definition of eternal life is a reference only to the saved. This is seen most clearly in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” Even though those who do not believe will exist eternally, they are referred to as those perishing. To perish is not ceasing to exist, but instead, perishing is a continual state of separation from God in the timeless eternal future.  This is what the Bible calls death, or sometimes it is referred to as the second death (Rev. 20:14). As God is the source of all good, it is a condition of perishing away from any possibility of good and instead existing under God’s eternal wrath in a state of always dying but never moving into non-existence.

John 3:36 is significant in understanding eternal life. John writes, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” The statement, “will not see life” by context is referring to our Lord’s promise of “eternal life.” The idea of not seeing this quality of life means not just experiencing it by full measure, but such people will not ever come close enough to it to catch even a glimpse of it. The point expressed is the absolute miserable eternal state of those outside of Christ, who will never have the slightest degree of any good or any hope for improvement.

This brings us to the value of eternal life. Everyone will exist somewhere for all of eternity. Christians and non-Christians are alike, but only in the sense of being created as eternal beings never to be un-created.  The only eternal destiny other than the one described as eternal life with Christ is one that provides everlasting punishment. Eternal life as disclosed in the Scripture, when compared with the alternative of eternal punishment, is so infinitely different and glorious it is beyond any ability of measure. It must be considered best to understand its value by the words of our Lord when He said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26). Some people reading this may have pressing or overwhelming trials even now in this life. Perhaps we are living in pain, or the essence of living in the present world has us near to its end. If we are in Christ Jesus, we will soon pass from our undesirable situation into eternal bliss with God just as He has promised for all who believe in Him. As always, the issue is a right relationship with Christ. For as we have stated before, it is where we are going that counts. If we have eternal life, regardless of our present state, we have everything. But if we do not have eternal life, we really have nothing. Thank you, Lord, for the promise of eternal life!