Eternal Life
Have you ever thought about what it really means to have ‘Eternal Life’? In my experience most of those that I come into contact with think, and believe, that eternal life is and adjective followed by a noun. The think that when they were saved that their ‘life’ changed and now it is never going to end. Probably most feel this way because of what they have been taught. To put another way - in the words of Dr. Phil Jones at FBC Powell - most have had salvation described to them as ‘life enhancement’ or that after accepting Jesus that their problems will go away. Well, I’ve got news for ya - being a follower of Christ is not that at all. When we accept the Son it is true that we receive Eternal Life but, I believe that we must re-think and re-learn what that means if we are to truly live the abundant life that Christ came to give us.
Eternal Life, when studied scripturally, is Christ’s Life. Christ has been since the beginning and will be forever. He is eternal. I would challenge anyone to re-think their understanding of eternal life to not include from this point forward but also from this point backwards! That means that when you receive God’s Son for salvation you not only inherit a new future but you also receive a brand new past, His past! That means that the believer no longer has to follow the same thought and behavior patterns that plagued their self-sufficient and sinful life prior to regeneration but they can now appropriate their new eternal identity in Christ!
I recently watched a video that ended with a brilliant message. The final thought was that success in life is determined by the number of shining eyes that surround you. You have the opportunity within every moment of life to make the eyes around you shine. It is a matter of who you are being, not what you are doing. As Christians living faith and hashing it out in the tough economic times, remember, you have Eternal Life and that is not the definition of how long you will live - it is a definition of who you are. Christ.