Eternal Life OR Eternal Life?

Part 1

Unless one is plagued with suicidal ideation, everybody wants to live. This is evidenced by the fact that almost half of the world's population has already taken the vaccine because people want to avoid sickness and the prospect of death. As of this writing, according to the New York Times, more than 3.81 billion people worldwide have received a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, equal to about 49.7 percent of the global population. It goes without saying that we all want to live as long as possible especially if we can retain our health and vigor as we age. But the inescapable fact remains that sooner or later, we all die. Is it not ironic that we all want to live for a long time, which is only temporary but give less thought to what happens after we die – which is permanent?

1st John 5

11And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. 13I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

John 17

3And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

The author who penned the above Bible verses was the Apostle John. He was a fisherman who was discipled by Jesus and was an eyewitness to Jesus' miracles, Jesus' crucifixion and death, as well as Jesus' reappearance in his resurrected body. Because of his faith, the Roman authorities sentenced John to be thrown into a vat of boiling oil. He miraculously survived that. Seeing that he was unscathed, Rome then ordered that he be exiled to the isle of Patmos. John's message to the world deals with the subject of eternal life. Since we are preoccupied with trying to stay healthy and alive during our temporary existence in this post-Covid world, should we at least give some attention to our permanent existence in the next world?

James 4

14You don't know what will happen tomorrow. What is life? You are a mist that is seen for a moment and then disappears.

In the whole scheme of things, our lives are short and temporary, so the decisions and actions that we undertake in this life are critically important and determine our ultimate destiny in the next life.

Coming up in Part 2 of this topic, I will explain what choices you have – choices that you may not be aware of – precipitated by the Covid pandemic.