Eternal Life???

The scene described in John 17:1-5 is one of the most beautiful and profound of all the accounts of the history of mankind.  Jesus Christ, the very son of God directs Himself towards His Father as was His custom before His disciples.  While His words went up towards God their purpose was to benefit and enlighten those who heard them.  He describes in a few words a very intimate relationship between the Father and the Son, times before our world was created, and the Divine intention for our involvement in life outside of the boundaries of time.

There is far more deep instruction packed into this powerful section of text but perhaps we may consider for now only what it means to have eternal life.

Most of the instruction that I have been taught on the subject of eternal life was fixed on things which we can see and touch. Well intended people and teachers of faith often try to paint a picture of your life without end in a wonderful environment.  This may be highly agreeable and enticing to our nature as we are built in such a way as to always seek the best things for ourselves.

However true the picture may be, maybe we should be on our guard as to the limiting factors that such a salesman’s trick could have on our spiritual wellbeing.  The point being that even something so lofty as desiring to make it to heaven, may have the wrong intentions and motivation pushing them.

God tried hard throughout the entire Bible to show us just who and what He is.  He painstakingly walked each generation through the necessity of seeking Him because it was His intention for us when He created us.  He attempted to teach us at every point in time, what our proper adjustment to Him should be and what the state of our hearts and souls should be.

Then the Father sent us His Son, to clarify this point and to give an example.  Jesus was able to show us in ways that no other could do, just how fully we needed to be wrapped up in and bowed before, and adjusted to that amazing entity which we call Jehovah.

In these first few verses of John 17 Jesus describes this relationship with His Father while He is demonstrating it to us. What is more is that He states clearly that while it was God intention for us from the beginning, it is also what it means actually, to have eternal life.

A beautiful fact about our God is that while He gives much, nothing of that glory or love ever leaves Him for an instant and the correct response upon receiving anything from God is to offer it right back up towards the Giver.

In nature we find many beautiful pictures of circles or cycles which work in harmony, such as the cycle of water.  It evaporates into the atmosphere out of the bodies of water, falls in precipitation, flows through the earth working and sustaining all things, and then returns to the bodies of water again.  It is amazing to contemplate such a cycle but it does not do justice to the spiritual cycle where all things flow from God, sustaining and creating, redeeming and lifting, and then finally, bringing back all the glory once again to Him.

It is so right and correct for us as created beings, to attempt to draw near, bow to, lift up, adore and love our Creator and Redeemer, that it may sometimes be overlooked.  However, when we are doing those things and only when we are doing those things are we correctly adjusted to our Maker.  ¨This is life eternal¨, says Jesus, ¨that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent. (John 17:3 King James Version)

Jesus effectively shows us that nothing is separated from God in its correct form and intention.  He was in that right relationship with His Father and instructs us to seek the same.  To do this, to know the Father and the Son in this way, is to be connected perfectly to something which time has no power over.  Eternal is God and eternal will be the things and the people who are found properly adjusted to Him and with Him.

Here we do not consider nor care to look at a beautiful everlasting house.  When we look so fully at honoring God, we are not motivated by achieving some supernatural power which will allow us to fight off death and bring ourselves that kind of honor.  The correct adjustment of the true Christian will be one of honoring God before him or herself.

Don´t you think that honest study of the life of Christ will show that He had this kind of intention and this kind of relationship with the Father?  Perhaps we can see that this is how and why His powerful miracles were made possible.  Maybe it becomes clear to us that awesome and mind blowing things are the logical and expected conclusion to such a pure encounter and closeness with the Divine.  Even eternal life where death has no power is a natural effect of being found so close to God that we live in Him and He in us.

Let us make every effort to attain eternal life.  It is a worthy goal, but let us keep in mind what we mean when we speak of it and let us keep our motives pure.  Never let us seek personal gain before the glorification and giving of honor which belongs to God and His Son.  Follow the example of Jesus, even if it is not the common or popular method of your religion.

Jesus called us to this kind of worship and He set the example.  God has placed His seal of approval upon it and Jesus is here to help us in attaining it.  These are the promises and the results will be received throughout eternity for those whose goal is God over all.

He who has ears………

In Jesus, our Way,

Scott W