“The Life of Eternity"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe….

"The Life of Eternity"

    The Lord Jesus Christ defined eternal life in terms of relationship rather than duration.

    "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3).

    Our Savior's emphasis directs our heart and mind to Who we know, as opposed to how long we will exist in the life of God.  This is not to minimize the Bible's promise of everlasting glories to come, and their promise of eternally knowing a far more vivid experience of reality than we presently comprehend.  However, God made our hearts for mutually loving devotion and fellowship.  "The Lord taketh pleasure in His people… In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 149:4; 16:11).  Our "fearfully and wonderfully" made humanity possesses characteristics for fellowship with our Heavenly Father that bring Him joyous and meaningful delight as the presence of the indwelling Spirit of Christ enlivens our potential for relationship (Psalm 139:14).  Thus, when  we think of eternal life, we must first consider and emphasize the gracious wonder of our Lord forever relating to us, and our relating to Him.  

   Such wonder begins in this lifetime for all who trust the Lord Jesus.  Certainly, we "see through a glass darkly" (I Corinthians 13:12).  But we do see.  We do know that we know our Lord as "the Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God" (Romans 8:16).  The Apostle John referenced this in his declaration that believers presently "have eternal life" (I John 5:13).  That is, we now know in this lifetime the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.  Moreover, to whatever degree we have advanced in living fellowship with our Heavenly Father, we can proceed further down "the path of the just… that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Proverbs 4:18).  

   Let gratefully bask in the glory of such a gift.  In this day, our Lord offers to draw us further into His heart for the discovery of who He is.  He also proclaims the astonishing truth that we will bring Him pleasure even as we rejoice in Him.  "The prayer of the upright is His delight" (Proverbs 15:8).  Surely nothing offers us more thrilling expectation, and nothing begins to compare with the potential we possess in Christ to know God and to be known by Him.  May His Spirit lead us accordingly, and may this day in time be graced with the life of eternity as we "know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent."

"Call unto Me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

(Jeremiah 33:3)

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in unto Him and will sup with Him, and He with Me."

(Revelation 3:20)

Weekly Memory Verse

   "Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us and hath give us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work."

 (II Thessalonians 2:16-17)

5826