“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20 NLT)
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 NKJV)
“For God so loved the world that He gave the only begotten Son, so that everyone believing in Him should not perish, but should have eternal life.” (John 3:16 BSB)
I just couldn’t pull myself away from talking about the “eternal life” that I possess now, so here we go again. I am not satisfied waiting until I leave this planet to experience the fullness of life that Jesus gave His life to purchase for me. I am not trying to deny the hardships that accompany this life prior to Heaven, however those hardships are minor in comparison to all that dwells within me. I never grow tired of rehearsing who I have become, and what I have been given, in the “eternal life package” that I received in my salvation. The very life of my Eternal Father resides in abundance in me. Let me say that again…
…THE VERY LIFE OF MY ETERNAL FATHER RESIDES IN ABUNDANCE IN ME!
That is a mouthful. It is definitely beyond the ability of my natural mind to comprehend (good thing I have the Mind of Christ). Just like Adam, the Creator of the Universe has breathed His breath of life into me. I am created “just a little lower than God,” in His image and likeness. As His child I have become a partaker of His “Divine Nature.” When you look at me, what you see is definitely not all that you get. Appearances can be deceiving, and in my case as a born again, recreated, Son of God, I am far more than can be seen with your eyes.
Here is the best part of all of this. I have been given eternal life for a purpose that goes far beyond myself. The reason that I possess all that Heaven has to offer today is so that I can give it away. If eternal life was all about me going to Heaven then the best thing that my Pastor could have done for me when he baptized me would have been to hold me under the water until I met my Maker. He brought me back up out of the water not only so that I could live my life with Jesus, but more importantly so that I could begin sharing that life with others. In the Kingdom the best way to receive is to give. If I want to experience a greater degree of anything that I possess in Christ the quickest way to experience more is to give more away. The gift of eternal life is a gift that is enjoyed most when it is given to someone else.
So, what is the difference in my experience of eternal life before and after the grave?
- This side of the grave I will need to battle obstacles, opposition, and oppression in order to fully experience the benefit of the eternal life that I already possess.
- Eternal life is to be shared with as many people as possible on this side of the grave.
So what is the same in my experience of eternal life before and after the grave?
- Everything that I will possess after the grave I already possess today.
- It is my Heavenly Father’s design and desire (will) that I experience everything that the Kingdom of Heaven has to offer now, not just in Heaven someday. His eternal life is always present tense!
Can you see what I get so revved up about…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 173: “Eternal Life: Don’t leave home without it.” Part 5: What, if anything, should I expect to be different in my experience of “eternal life” before and after the grave? (continued)