“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 NLT)
A recent Breakpoint article by John Stonestreet and Glenn Sunshine entitled The Quest for Immortality outlines numbers of ways mankind over the years, up to and including the present, has sought to defeat death and the grave. In some ways it boggles my mind why anyone would want to live forever in a human body, but the fact remains that it is appointed unto man once to die, then the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). The death rate for human beings is still 100%.
It would be interesting to know how God enabled humans to live hundreds of years at one point. The Bible says that Methuselah lived 869 years and didn’t have his first child until he was 187, then had more after that. The irony to me is that Jesus promised eternal life to all who would receive it as a gift from Him. Seeking eternal life apart from Jesus is like looking for light in a cave.
God put eternity in the hearts of mankind, so, of course we want to live forever. And the reality is, we will, just not in an earth-bound body and not someplace that we’ll enjoy, without Jesus. Paul contrasted in Ephesians 4:17-24 the confusion and waywardness we face apart from the Lord, and how coming to Him enables us to “throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.” And to “Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.”
The answer to how to have eternal life is found in commitment and devotion to Jesus. Paul wrote in Colossians 3:10-11: “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us.”
Note that “all of us” in the above verse refers to all those who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus. Paul clearly defines who his audience is in the verses preceding those I used. It’s also affirmed throughout the New Testament that those who repent and believe Christ’s message of salvation by faith, are filled with His Holy Spirit, who becomes our guide and teacher as we learn to walk in ways that are pleasing to the Lord.
The problem is many people want to have their “cake” and eat it too. They want eternal life in heaven without changing their lifestyle. They want to think and act the same carnal, ungodly way, but have a God-honoring result. And that’s a clear definition of insanity! Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
Transformation from lost to found is an immediate, yet life-long process. We are immediately forgiven and given eternal life, but that’s only the beginning of learning what that means and how the Spirit wants to work our new life out in practical ways in our everyday life. How to live, love, serve, and follow Jesus in our home, work, play; in the good times and bad; when we have plenty and when we don’t; when our bodies are filled with energy and when we’re dragging; when our spirits are high and when we have to look up to see the bottom.
Loving and serving Jesus is the easiest, yet the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I wouldn’t trade my life in Christ for anything this world offers. No Jesus, no life! Know Jesus, know life! He is the only way to the Father, thus the only way to have eternal life (John 14:6).
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 