Bishop's Corner
Pulpit Communications
Life Eternal
Text St. John 17:3
A DEVOTION
By The Rt. Rev. Wilfred J. Messiah
The one wholly inescapable fact for every human being is that he must die, for it is appointed unto man once to die. In this fact man shares the lot of every living creature - but with a difference. Animals, like human beings, have a biological urge to live, they fight tenaciously for life. But animals below man have no vision of the future which would lead them either to long for death or to create a philosophy of resistance to it. Animals do not yearn for eternal life. Hence, the necessity of a faith and belief in eternal life in all the great religions of mankind. The concept of eternal life has been explained in many different ways, and is continuously a cause of controversy in the Christian Church. Therefore, let us turn to our prime example, Jesus Christ, and see what He says about Eternal life.
The purpose of the Gospel according to St. John is to show that Jesus is the Son of God and that believing in Him man may have eternal life. In an effort to achieve this purpose, the author of the Gospel places on the lips of Jesus the High Priestly Prayer, which includes this profound statement: "And this is life eternal, that they may know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou have sent."
This text as presented is our Savior's own definition of Life Eternal. Life eternal is to know God and to know Jesus Christ. This knowledge is not only academic or intellectual; it is a spiritual apprehension of God. In our present existence this knowledge is a matter of faith, but when He shall appear it will be a vision----face to face. We shall know even as also we are known.
Naturally, this spiritual apprehension stirs the heart to desire a closer fellowship with the Father whom the son reveals and a more consistent conformity to the Fathers will. Eternal life therefore, means not merely an extension of existence beyond the grave , but a quality of life that begins here before the grave. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have eternal life. Certainly this does not mean that the person without Christ perishes at death only, but that he/she lacks the fullness and the richness of eternal life that can be his all along the way. The emphasis is on the new quality of life that can come to the person who makes Christ the center of his faith and loyalty. To be saved by Christ means to enter now into a closer fellowship with God in Christ that transforms this life and reaches into eternity. A fellowship and sanctifying power through the mediation of Christ the Son.
Oh for a more abundant knowledge of the living God! For to know him is life eternal-----to know Him in His Fatherhood; to know Him as the God of Love; to know Him as delighting in mercy; to know Him as the truth itself; to know Him as having so loved the world, that He gave His son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal LIFE.
"This is life eternal that they might know thee ." St. John 17:3 Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt have 'Eternal Life.'