Eternal Life

 

Eternal Life
John 17:1-5

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

 

There are many people who are searching for God externally in the world. They have their own theory in what they believe about God. Many of us have been shaped by the opinions of others and how they feel about God to be our perception or have followed along with our religious upbringing in who God is through family, church or someone who shared their faith and testimony about God. People make plans to travel to the seven wonders of the world hoping to meet God or someone, or to see a statue or holy relic. This quest may take years of planning, researching and money to embark on this journey. And truthfully without the Holy Spirit’s help men are following blind guides and their flesh. 

However, the Holy Bible is the infallible living Word of God. We will find God there in His Word because He is the embodiment of the Word of God. John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. The written word is the good news of the gospel that is about Jesus Christ and His gift of salvation. We cannot physically see Him with our natural eyes because God is Spirit. John 4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” It is through our faith and heart that we believe in Christ. The Word is living and has the power to reach us and go beyond our intellectual minds. The spoken Word is the Rhema word spoken aloud.

The Word of God tells us Colossians 1:26-27 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? When we become believers in Christ these scriptures are for us to learn where God is dwelling within us and why our bodies are temples that belong to the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of truth sent by Jesus and the Father to be our helper and teacher until the day of redemption. Ephesians 1:13-14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

We are not looking outward to find the Holy Spirit because the Word tells us where He is dwelling within us. So, our responsibility is to submit our will and lives to God’s Spirit and allow Him to teach us what the scriptures are saying about Christ and our gift of salvation and learn about the regenerative process of what happens in our lives when we become born again.

We must study and meditate on the Word to grow and learn how to follow Christ through the Word of God. Our steps are ordered by the Lord we are as babes starting a new life in God’s kingdom. Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. This kingdom is spiritual and where God dwells and rules. He is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient, and Omnibenevolence. Remember, God is Spirit and is fully aware of us and is watching over us as He lives within us through the Holy Spirit.

We must accept that Jesus died for our sins and believe He is the Son of God. Our confession with our mouths and hearts declares our faith in Christ. Our faith makes us righteous, and we are justified by faith and that puts us in Christ. He knows us and see’s our hearts. The work that the Holy Spirit does in a believer’s life is to help us to become new creations in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Our old man and nature must die, so that the new man will grow into becoming a new man who follows and obey God’s Word and Spirit. Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 

Jesus is the life that we are being spiritually transformed into being new creations in eternity. Everything is for Him and about Him. We must worship and give our praises and glory to God. He has the full authority to judge and give us eternal life. Our hearts and minds must agree with the Word of God and His will for our lives. We cannot inherit eternal life if we do not believe in Jesus, follow, and obey His commandments. John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

He walked the earth over 2,000 years ago, as the Son of Man. He taught parables, teachings from the law of Moses, healed the sick, fed the poor, encouraged the broken hearted, downtrodden, preached about love, forgiveness, and the kingdom of heaven and more. The people whose minds were hungry for this hope of being in the kingdom of heaven believed Him because they were oppressed and wanted to experience a new life of freedom with Jesus. And yet, there were many who were against Jesus’ messages and were envious and jealous of His following because people did believe that He was the Son of God.

Jesus spoke to them about the new Jerusalem. They were encouraged because He demonstrated miracles, signs, and wonders. The evidence of His power was revealed and released when He sent the word or spoke the word, prayed, fasted, and laid hands on the sick.  He was fully man and fully God when He walked the earth. Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We have the Word and the Holy Spirit to help, teach and guide us until our work is finished. Every day we must acknowledge Jesus as Lord and continue seeking the kingdom of God. We must not be moved by new and strange doctrines nor have itching ears. Many will start out believing the truth, but they will be lead astray because it will not be easy to follow Jesus’ commandments when the storms of life hit our lives. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 

Jesus is the way to eternal life. Galatians 3:26-29 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Many of us are babes in the Word and may have doubts about our salvation and will we inherit eternal life. Here are some scriptures that we need to meditate and eat daily until we hide it inside our hearts. Ephesians 1:13-14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

We must rest in knowing that Christ Jesus is the truth. John 16:13-14 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. Jesus’ words are life and spirit, and no man can thwart God’s plans. The Holy Spirit is the down payment for us according to God’s promise. 2 Corinthians 1:22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. Our faith is in Jesus not in our feelings, fickle minds nor our works of righteousness. As we pray, study, meditate on the living Word of God the Holy Spirit will increase our faith and be our keeper until the day of redemption. Our part is to hold on to our faith in Jesus and abide in His Word. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Eternal life to many is that when we die, eternal life begins. However, we must first accept Christ in this life before we die to inherit eternal life in Christ Jesus. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Colossians 1:15-20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

 

Inside His Glory

 

From the time you were born

I fashioned you out of victory

Inside your soul resides faith

 You mean everything to Me

Through the years I kept you

To suffer is to know Me

 As the tears fell I wept

When the storms grew

I imparted tenacity and resilience

 When you lift your hands

Pray to Me and ask my child

I am in the midst to give

When you dance open your hands

Embrace My Spirit and rejoice

I pour when you give praise

 Now that you know who I AM

Remember I am watching over you

As you run this race I will bless

 Your feet will not slow down

Smile when it rains you are close

I have given you eternal life

ã2004 “Naima’s Inspirational Melodies”