Read John 5:24-30. Circle the words that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
Digging Deeper
Eternal life. What is that? Is eternal life just living forever? Is there something more in the eternal state than just living forever? Do you wish that you could get a “sneak peek” into the eternal state? It’s normal to wonder what is beyond the grave.
The word, life or live is used five times in the passage. Eternal life is more than just the duration of life as it involves the quality of life. It is spending eternity in the presence of God being astonished as to who He is, what He has done and will do in eternity. It’s enjoying the unhindered fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God has wonderful things that we can’t even imagine or fathom.
Eternal life means the absence of fear of death or judgment. Eternal life means acceptance by God and
being part of the family of God. Eternal life means being with our loved one and meeting other believers who will recount the grace of God in their lives. It’s looking forward to a new body that is not corruptible, that doesn’t sin or decay. Eternal life is stepping into another door that is beyond this physical world into the spiritual world.
Eternal life is not awarded. It is not earned. Eternal life begins with the grace of God and is experienced the moment you and I believe in Jesus as the One who died for your sins. It’s responding in faith and stepping through the door that Christ has already unlock for us. You’re at the threshold. You and I must take that step of faith to enter through that doorway and begin to experience eternal life. You’re not there until you cross over by faith. Will you take that step of faith into eternity with God? I hope to see you there.
-Kingston