And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” vs. 3
John 17:1-5
It’s not unusual for believers to think of eternal life as the new life that awaits them after death. And sometimes they then wonder what they’ll be doing with all that time on their hands. After all, singing in a great heavenly chorus could be fun for a while, but imagine doing it for all eternity! John resolves that difficulty in today’s passage, where eternal life is defined simply as knowing Jesus Christ, the One in whom the only true God has been revealed. We can have eternal life now and forever in Jesus, and it doesn’t involve doing anything or even going to a place called Heaven. Knowing is the word scripture uses to describe the most intimate of relationships, that connection where two become one. It’s a merger of selves, a union in which the one is absorbed in another, and yet remains two. It’s what we strive for in marriage. Imagine having that kind of relationship with Jesus Christ! That’s eternal life, and it can never ever be taken away from us. Can we really know God in such a fashion? It almost seems impossible, yet all of us have witnessed that kind of intimacy. Often we sense it in a married couple; we see it among the faithful as well. We see it in their gentle humility and loving eyes, their peaceful manner and freedom from anxiety. And now we know why. They have eternal life!
Thought for the Day: With whom do I have intimacy?
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