Sadly many have heard or encountered people who say that eternity is something that comes when your life ends here. People confront others with the question of “if you died today where would you go? Heaven or Hell?” This is actually rooted in fear, because truth be told everyone whose life is not surrendered to Jesus Christ has a fear of death! No matter how big and bad they want to make themselves appear to be, deep in their soul they are scared! Then they are presented with a simple solution to comfort their emotions, “just say this prayer after me and when you die you will go to Heaven…” Is this true? Is this the Gospel? Can you just say this simple prayer and keep living as you have been and one day enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
What does the Word of God say about eternal life?
John 17:3 (NKJV)
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
I want to focus on this word “know”, a word in today's age that is overlooked, yet has eternal implications in the Kingdom of God!
This word is G1097 is the Strong’s and is the Greek word ginōskō, which is used 223x in the KJV and means:
- to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of, perceive, feel, to understand
- to become acquainted with, to know in an intimate way
Let’s expand on “intimacy.” What does the Word of God say?
Luke 1:34 (NKJV)
“Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
This is the same Greek word above. Understand Mary is a virgin, being visited by Gabriel, an angel of God. He has come to reveal to her that she will conceive and give birth to a son, and that she is to name him Jesus (v. 31). In the next verse he tells her Jesus is the Son of God. Mary then questions him about how this can be, since she is a virgin and has never been intimate with a man.
The Merrriam-Webster dictionary's definition of intimacy is: the state of being intimate (familiarity); something of a personal or private nature. The definition of intimate is: marked by a warm friendship developing through long association; suggesting informal warmth or privacy.
Let’s make a quick tie here, John 17:3 says, “…that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ.” So eternal life is about building a personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Eternal life is not some future thing that happens when we pass on. We are all in a measure of eternity now, and the Word of God says our life here is but a vapor (James 4:14).
Friend, the fact is every heartbeat you are given is a miracle of God, and if He decides to stop the next beat you will pass into eternity! You are a heartbeat from eternity!
2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV)
“For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
How can you expect to spend all of eternity worshiping the one whom Heaven adores if you don’t even know who He is now?
Psalms 139:13 says, “For You formed my innermost parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.” God has known you before you were even a thought in your parents mind. There has been an eternal call for you to come to know Him! The issue is not God, but you! The fact is, you were born into a fallen state, you are spiritually dead and the god of this world (satan) has a plan to try and keep it that way.
2 Corinthians 4:4 (NKJV)
“whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”
Jesus, the Beloved Son of God came to this earth, walked and lived a perfect sinless life (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 John 3:5). He fulfilled the law (Matt. 5:17) and died a criminal's death on the cross to pay the debt of sin for every person who has ever walked this earth or ever will.
Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
And what is eternal life? To know the only true God and Jesus Christ!
Friend, YOU have a part to play! A relationship is not one sided, it takes both sides working together and the Word of God says “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). Just to reiterate He knows you (John 2:25), but you must know Him! This is a lifelong journey and just like every relationship in the natural world you will have ups and downs. There will be seasons where the Lord feels so close, and seasons where you question is He even here? Just remember His promise that He will never leave you, nor forsake you (Deut. 31:6). Many times He is looking to see if you will keep pressing in. There are also times when a test comes, and think of the times in school when the test came. The teacher was still in the room, but could not talk to you as it was up to you to show what you have learned. Same thing goes in the Kingdom of God, as you grow and mature there are times the Lord is ensuring you can walk the walk!
No different than how Jesus came to the disciples and said “Follow Me”, so He is saying the same thing to you! How do you follow Jesus today? Through a life laid down, separated from the things of this world, and focused on Him! This is true repentance, it's a turning from how you’ve been living and doing things, and turning to Jesus and His ways! He came and died for you on the cross so you can be forgiven of your sins and reconciled to the Father, however this does not mean you keep living life as usual. When you are born again, the old you dies and you are resurrected to new life (2 Cor, 5:17). You begin to be transformed into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).
How is this possible? When you are born again the Holy Spirit comes to indwell you (Eph. 4:30; 1 John 2:27). He is your comforter (John 14:26), and He will teach you, and bring everything Jesus has said to your remembrance. However in order to bring something to your remembrance you must first know something, right? Who are you to know? Jesus!
John 1:1 (NKJV)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:14 (NKJV)
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 3:16 (NKJV)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 14:6 (NKJV)
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Jesus is the Word of God (Rev. 19:13), so to have a relationship with Jesus you must have a relationship in the Word of God. Through time spent in His Word, with a heart posture to be molded to it, you are transformed into the image of Jesus (John 17:17). This comes through time reading, praying and meditating on the Word of God!
Friend, what I am about to say here should put fear and trembling in you! The Word of God says “And it is appointed unto men once to die, and then the judgment.” (Heb. 9:27). You will stand before Jesus who will be the judge, and on that day no one else will be standing there to give an account for your life, it’s you and Him (Matt. 12:36)! Below is a sobering reality of what the Word of God says “many will hear”.
Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV)
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
The word “knew” in the above verse is the same word “know” in John 17:3 and Luke 1:34 above!
Friend, this isn’t about just going to church, although we are called to assemble. People go to church their whole life and never have a relationship with Jesus! Is this you? Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? Are you prepared to stand before Him on the day of judgment? If not, you MUST BE BORN AGAIN!