Life
John 17:3
This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
I spent many years thinking that eternal life and the purpose that comes with it would start after my life on this earth ended. I thought that entering into a relationship with Jesus was the end of the story. I thought that the entire point of life was simply to begin a relationship with Jesus by grace through faith, eventually I would die, and eternal life would begin. While this train of thought brings more hope than believing in nothing after death, it’s still not fully accurate. According to the scripture above, Jesus says that eternal life is knowing God. If this were our only purpose on earth, it would make more sense for us simply to be zapped up into heaven immediately upon conversion. But this isn’t the case. We stay on this earth, as new creatures of God’s Kingdom, with a purpose. Our natural life is invaded by the eternal life in Christ, and our true purpose begins.
The end goal isn’t simply to submit to Jesus, then wait around on earth aimlessly until eternal life begins. Receiving the grace that initiates a relationship with Jesus is the beginning of true life, not the end. Eternal life begins on this earth. When the supernatural Kingdom of God invades our being on this earth through the Holy Spirit, our eternal life begins. Then, our purpose, mission, and passion begin to take root in a heavenly perspective. The wiring, gifting, and experiences of this earth become agents of the pursuit of God’s Kingdom. Our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, heaven and earth meet and dwell inside of us. Our goal is not to simply teleport to heaven among conversion. Our goal is to do God’s will on this earth until we are called home. After all, God’s will is to be done on this earth as in heaven, and He’s chosen us to carry that out. Embrace that calling. Our eternal life has already started. Let’s start living that way.
Matthew 6:10
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
