I’ve been thinking about life and death over the last few days. This past week my neighbor, whom I have known for almost 15 years, passed away. She was an elderly lady who was full of life and I spoke with her on most days. She would always be waiting for me on her front porch when I got home in the evenings to share with me about her day. She had been sick for several months and although her death was not a complete surprise, I am sad and I miss her. But, I know she loved Jesus and she is with Him now. So, I naturally have been thinking more about eternal life and the fact that I will see her again one day.
Many Christians believe that Eternal Life means going to heaven when they die. Or that Eternal Life begins when we become a Christian. Neither one of those ideas are correct. Eternal Life is something we enter into and of which we become a partaker at the moment of salvation. It is receiving a new life altogether – Christ’s Life! Christ’s life has no beginning and no end. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:16-17). You can visualize Christ’s life by picturing a timeline that goes to infinity in eternity past and eternity future.
You see, when we were born we entered an existence called life in Adam. Everything that was true of Adam was now true of us. Adam’s history and his future were now our history and our future. Since Adam had sinned, we were sinners. Adam was dead spiritually, separated from God and condemned. Therefore, the same things were true of us. …For as in Adam all die… (1 Corinthians 15:22a). Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned… (Romans 5:12).
When we received salvation, God took us spiritually out of Adam and placed us into Christ. This was a literal spiritual event. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). Therefore, just as we were in Adam, now we are in Christ. Everything that is true about Christ is now true about us. We have entered into His life. We were crucified out of one life and brought into a new realm of living which is Christ’s eternal life. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20). We have participated literally in Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, ascension and seating at the right hand of the Father.
Eternal Life is Christ’s life. As believers, we are now in Christ. We have entered into Christ’s life. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:3-4).
If you would like someone to talk with about eternal life or what it means to let Christ live His life through you to meet your deepest needs, please give us a call. We would love to talk with you!