Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
What is eternal life? Somebody once said, eternal life is not a length of time. It's a quality of living. Our Verse of the Day addresses this quality of living.
It's in John chapter 17 verse 3: And this is the way to have eternal life—to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One You sent to earth.
The purpose of John is in John chapter 20 verse 31, which says, These things have been written, that you may know that Jesus is the Christ, and that by believing you may have life in His name. That's really the overarching purpose. Here in John chapter 17, Jesus is in the upper room preparing for the upper room discourse.
Two Essential Relationships
In John chapter 17, He basically gives us the concept of eternal life and how it consists of a whole lot of things, but specifically a couple of very important relationships.
Knowing and Enjoying God the Father
Number one, eternal life is knowing and enjoying God the Father. It says it right there in the verse—This is the way—or this is eternal life—to know You, the only true God. God is at the center of his universe. He is the only true God, and eternal life is knowing this God and Father. How well do we know this God? Because this is what eternal life is going to be like—in part—knowing God the Father.
I love Romans chapter 8 verse 15 which says, We have not received a spirit of slavery to fear, but we've received the spirit of sonship by which we cry out, "Abba, Father!" You know, God is this great, awesome God. He is all knowing. He's omnipresent, He's omnipotent, He's omniscient, but He reveals Himself as Father, I believe, to accommodate who we are as frail human beings. If you think about eternal life, eternal life is knowing God the Father.
Knowing and Enjoying Jesus as Our Savior
Secondly, eternal life is knowing and enjoying Jesus as our Savior. It isn't just this esoteric knowledge. This is knowledge of a person. This is knowledge of God the Father, and this is knowledge of Jesus Christ our Savior.
I've been to the hospital many times with people on their deathbed. Unfortunately, I've seen people in the process of dying where I wasn't really sure if they were a Christian. I've also seen people who have died right in front of me, like they've fallen asleep. I've seen people reach up and say, "Jesus." It's a completely different picture.
Here, the second satisfying relationship, with respect to eternal life, is knowing Jesus and enjoying Jesus Christ our Savior. The Bible says in Philippians chapter 4, Rejoice in the Lord always. It says in Psalm chapter 16 verse 11, In Your presence is fullness of joy.
The Joy of Eternal Life
Let's just call it like it is. You and I sometimes—and I don't want to be presumptuous—but we might worry that heaven's boring. We want to be happy. We want to die and go to heaven. That's why some people think if they don't know the Lord, that this is all we have. This is all the fun we have here and now.
That couldn't be further from the truth, because we're going to have this amazing bliss and joy and pleasure and satisfaction knowing God the Father and knowing Jesus our Savior. Psalm chapter 32 verse 11 says, Be glad in the Lord.
As you think about this passage and how this is eternal life, how well do you, how well do I know God, your Father? Because He's the one who sent His son Jesus Christ, to be your Lord and Savior. How well do you know Him?
May I encourage you as you think about this life and eternal life. We may as well get to know God the Father, and we should really get to know the Son, because you and I are going to be doing that for eternity.
