WHAT IS EVERLASTING LIFE?
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
What is everlasting life? The simplest dictionary meaning of everlasting life is “a life that does not end”. Man is a spirit living in a physical body on this earth. A spirit will require a physical body on this earth to be able to operate effectively in the physical realm. Without Jesus Christ in a person’s spirit or heart, that person is considered dead spiritually because there is no contact between the spirit of the person and the spirit of God. Once a person becomes born again, the person’s spirit reconnects to the spirit of God. The spirit of man never dies even when there is separation between the body and the spirit of man. Therefore everlasting life for the Christian is continuous life of the spirit with the spirit of God.
Further to “a life that does not end”, everlasting life also means a life of leadership. Matthew 5:14 states that “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid”. The bible says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). That is why we have diseases, hardship, poverty and other challenges in the world. The natural man (without God) originated all these challenges! Many people in the world have contributed to solving some of the world’s problems but still a lot needs to be done and the child of God has to contribute to solving some these problems if not all! As light of the world, the child of God has leadership abilities to propel the world to a state of reduced or no challenges. Everlasting life entails discovery of God given potentials in man. The advent of Jesus Christ has restored man to a greater glory. That glory is revealed by our intimacy with the Holy Spirit. The glory of God provides distinguished favour beyond human comprehension for the child of God to serve the world.
Everlasting life has to do with service to the world and getting returns for the services provided. The child of God can provide several services to the world. These include healing diseases which medicine has not yet found cure for; preaching the Gospel to the world so that more people can also receive everlasting life; providing material needs to persons who need help; providing counseling services to persons who need these services; opening up businesses to provide tailored solutions to challenges of the world etc. These services generate wealth and make the world a better place to live in. ‘Physical’ prosperity is a function of everlasting life. It is the desire of God that His children proper. Joseph of Arimathaea, being a counsellor and a good man was able to go to Pilate and request the body of Jesus for burial (Luke 23:50). A Christian can have influence on authority when he/she provides distinguished service(s) to the world. The world always celebrates excellent innovations.
