Insights through questions
By Jerry Batson, Th.D.
Special to The Alabama Baptist
Long ago a wise man made the observation that “God has made everything beautiful in its time.” He also bore witness about both God and His creation of human beings by continuing, “He has put eternity in their heart” (Eccles. 3:11). As the eternal God, He did this by creating man in His own image and likeness.
It also was long ago that Job asked a vital question: “If a man dies shall he live again?” (Job 14:14). Long afterward God Himself answered the question by raising His only Son from death to life, thereby dramatically demonstrating the potential of life after death.
We celebrate that answer at Easter. As part of the lead-in to another Easter observance, Theology 101 gives thought to the biblical teaching about eternal life.
‘Everlasting life’
The idea of eternal life indeed speaks about the duration of human life. If words carry any meaning at all eternity is a long time any way we look at it. Hence the term is often translated as “everlasting life.”
However, eternal life is about much more than the endless duration of life. It is about a unique quality of life. We are blessed when we realize the life of eternity is far more than a matter of endlessness. Though we almost automatically tend to think of endlessness when we think of eternal life. God, however, has in mind a quality of life that surpasses human imagination.
Eternal life speaks of life that is full and abundant. Christians have the potential of tasting abundant life while living out the redeemed life here and now. Jesus declared that He came so His followers might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10).
‘For those who love Him’
As we learn how to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit we begin to get a foretaste of what eternal life will be like.
Furthermore, with the resurrection of Christ we get an indication that the life of eternity promises to be not only abundant life, but also embodied life. As embodied life it will be life in which we are both recognizable and conversant.
We get a preview of this at the transfiguration of Christ when Moses and Elijah appeared talking with Him and were identifiable as well as conversant.
When we have gleaned all the Bible points toward about eternal life we still must confess with 1 Corinthians 2:9, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
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