The beautiful gift of everlasting life
As a Christian I am so thankful that I have everlasting life through Jesus Christ. "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." 1 John 5:11. What a gift God has given us through His Son Jesus Christ. Wow! How could I thank and praise God enough for being able to abide with Jesus Christ on earth and live with Him in heaven for all eternity?
The most popular verse in the Bible says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. I appreciate every word of that verse but to be granted everlasting life through Jesus Christ is something so special to me on a personal level.
I was once dead in my sins and now I have life in Jesus Christ. The Son of God comes all the way home when He says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24. When the Bible says ... "But is passed from death unto life" that is something we should never take lightly but understand the opposites (death or life).
Let me just move on with the subject and I think you will begin to understand the reality of the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our Savior said and is still saying, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life." John 6:47.
If one reads four verses down Jesus talks about living forever again by saying, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." John 6:51. The Bible says this living bread is straight from heaven and His name is Jesus Christ.
When John poured his heart out he spoke about Jesus Christ as being true. He referred to our Lord as being the true God who is eternal life. "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." 1 John 5:20. Look at how many times Jesus Christ is referred to as truth. (1) ... "That we may know Him that is true," ... (2) "And we are in Him that is true" ... (3) "This is the true God." Look at the last three words ... "And eternal life." Jesus Christ is true and we receive eternal life through Him.
God knows exactly how long you will live and if you are His child you will shine forever in heaven with Him." The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be forever." Psalm 37:18.
Relative to this subject the Bible actually encourages us to be meek. Let me just let the Bible do the talking. "The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek Him: your heart shall live for ever." Psalm 22:26.
You would think the person that postulates would be the one that is satisfied but the Bible says, "The meek shall eat and be satisfied." They are just seeking God and drawn to praise Him so of course ... "Your heart shall live forever." The prideful person is never content. That is just one of the bad fruits that inevitably come out of a person that always wants his or her own way.
One of the most popular chapters in the Bible is Psalm 23. This person is living for the Lord and can expect, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." Psalm 23:6. I often forget that God is good. I have been under so many bosses that were bad that I forget that God really does want the best for me but in a merciful way in the midst of my very trying circumstances. If He has to chip some flesh away in my life that is good but He always does this with the spirit of love.
The title of this article is, "The beautiful gift of everlasting life" and the last part of this verse comes all the way home which says ... "And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." Psalm 23:6. This gives me comfort and joy that I will be with Jesus Christ for ever in heaven.
When we got saved Jesus Christ did redeem us but He also received us. God is our Father of love. "But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave; for He shall receive me. Selah." Psalm 49:15. It is one truth not to have my sins counted against me it but it is another thing entirely to be received by Jesus Christ in His love. Don't you think it would be kind of cold if God just said you are forgiven but no relationship, no interaction or love? We don't serve a God that wants that kind of fellowship with His children. He forgives upon repentance but God is warm with His children.
Jesus Christ makes it very clear that He is the resurrection and the life. This is why we can have the beautiful gift of everlasting life through the Son of God because He said, (25) "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?" John 11:25-26. The Bible talks about the contrast of being dead and living when in the context of resurrection life through Jesus Christ. Then in essence the Son of God goes on to say if you believe in Me you will never die.
One of the most famous resurrection verses in the Bible is, "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."1 Corinthians 15:54. If we are a true earnest believer in Jesus Christ we now have corruptible bodies but sometime pretty soon we will have incorruptibly bodies in heaven. If we are born again through the shed blood of Jesus Christ we are mortal (we will die) but in heaven death is against the law. We will live forever through the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.
On the opposite note those that die without Jesus Christ will live throughout eternity but there is nothing but death in the other place. The dying process takes place over and over again. I can see why the Apostle Paul was so excited about writing this passage to the Corinthians because he was fully aware of what unredeemed sinners go through in hell.
You may be one that has never given your heart over to Jesus Christ. If this is the case your bodies are corrupt but you will never experience incorruption. You are mortal but you will never live in immortality throughout eternity. The wise thing to do is accept Jesus Christ into your heart as your very own Savior and Lord by repenting of all your sins and listen to the words of Jesus Christ. "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:14.
God Bless you,
Bob D.
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