“How will eternal life be like?”

At first glance the question seem to be asking about something that is limited to the future, and therefore cannot be known. However eternal life is not a state that is future only; eternal life begins in the here and now, and then continues in the hereafter.

This concept will better be understood; by foremost asking the question,
“What is eternal life and how is it attained?”
The answer is that “all people will have eternal life”.
The issue is where you will spend it – heaven or hell. We will focus on eternal heaven.

To read more about hell, click here.

One of the major speakers of eternal life was Jesus.

In His final prayer before His arrest and trial, Jesus prayed for His disciples:

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

Again, the Apostle John wrote in his first epistle: “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (1 John 5:11).

Eternal life in heaven is received through faith in God, the Father. God has given His authority to His Son, Jesus Christ. We obtain this gift of life through salvation which God has offer to the whole world by the death and resurrection of His Son. When Jesus was manhandled, beaten, humiliated, and crucified, the penalty for our sins was fully paid and we were reconciled to God. We receive this privilege by simply believing and trusting that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. God imputes life to us when we have faith in what His Son, Jesus accomplished on the cross.

This life begins at the moment we believe the Gospel of the Holy Spirit. We are immediately transformed into new creations and a new existence, and living in fellowship with God, continues. This is the origin of the Christian’s eternal life; we have the presence of God with us at all times to guide us and direct us and help us to live according to the new standards and principles found in His Word.

Now how will eternal life be like?

Even though life begins in the present as blessed by God; we live on the earth and subject to earthly hardships, sorrows and disappointment, because our world is not perfect and defiled with sin. The solution is to take refuge in the presence of God while t rusting His promises in His Word which comforts and sustains us.

Note that this life we have obtained is everlasting. It will extend beyond the boundaries of this earthly existence, indeed beyond the grave. So while we may suffer adversity here and now as foreigners in a strange country, we have hope of a better day.

Yes, as Christians we suffer as foreigners in a strange land because our new existence is lived in disparity to those around us who continue to live in darkness without the life of Christ. The apostle Paul clearly understood this concept, as he writes in his letter to the Corinthians, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

Beloved, our hope is beyond this life; we look forward to the time when we will live Eternal life as in the presence of the living God, forever. We will be transformed into beings that are immortal and incorruptible. There we no longer need to fear sickness, pain or death. Greater than this is the expectation of being like the Jesus, an unbelievable concept, but that is the truth offered to us in God’s Word. (1 John)

“Dear friends, don’t not harden your hearts, repent and be baptized. Now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

Eternal life for the believer is the glorious, endless experience of our inheritance that we share with Jesus Christ, for we are “joint heirs” with Christ. We shall live for all eternity to reign as kings and priests, finally worthy to behold the face of the God. And, as the Apostle John concluded, “Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:3).

What do you think?

We have all sinned and deserve God’s judgment.

God, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him.

Jesus, the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and rose from the dead according to the scriptures.

If you truly believe and trust this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your Savior, declaring, “Jesus is Lord,” you will be saved from judgment and spend eternity with God in heaven.

What is your response?