“And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.” 1 John 2:25 CSB
God’s promise is a “divine assurance of good”, it is life “everlasting”. Life with Jesus comes with the promise of eternal life. We know that God sent Jesus into the world to save it, not condemn it (John 3:16-17 NIV). He doesn’t want anyone to perish according to these verses. This promise is one that can be very controversial. I don’t claim to know everything, I’m not trying to prove anything, I just want to focus on the promise of eternal life.
Did you realize your eternal life has already begun? I think Billy Graham explains it best in one of his most famous quotes:
“Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.”
We have new life in Jesus. We can have his peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:7 NIV). We can have His power, love and mind (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV). We have authority in His name to defeat our foes (Luke 10:19). Death is not a problem, He overcame it (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Your eternal life has already begun. It’s up to you how fully you live it now, here on earth. I reference it often, but Jesus is very clear what kind of life He wants for us in John 10:10 NIV:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Jesus came so you can have life and have it to the full. He died on the cross for you to make a way for that to happen. I don’t know what circumstances you’re facing today that are stealing your joy. I know that this life can be really, really hard. I know there is illness, there is disease, there is death. I know there are relationships that suck the life from you, I know it can be challenging loving people who don’t want to be loved (or think they don’t). I know there are addictions and murders and things out of our control. I know there is more in this world that doesn’t make sense than does. There are more “why?” questions then there are answers. I know that.
And I know there is God. Who has all the answers, all the solutions. There is God who sent His Son to help us through this life until we reach our new address in heaven. I know there is God who will create a way when we can’t see one (Psalm 77:19). There is God who has overcome this world (John 16:33). There is God who knows every hair on your body (Luke 12:7), every tear you’ve cried (Psalm 56:8), every hurt you’ve felt. There is God who has promised us eternal life, a life that has already started. Step into it, step into His promises. Don’t let the thief steal a thing from you, embrace all God has for you. Embrace life!
