SOME THOUGHTS ON ETERNAL LIFE

George Bernard Shaw once wrote: “Death is the most democratic of all experiences.”  It’s true. No one gets out of this world alive, but the God who gives us life can even raise the dead.

One of the earliest accounts is when Elijah raised the widow of Zarephath’s son in 1 Kings 17. It was during a time when Elijah was hiding from an angry King Ahab because Elijah had delivered news that God was going to hold back the rain and bring drought.

The widow extended incredible hospitality—feeding him bread from the last of her flour and oil. Therefore, God ensured her flour and oil never ran out until the land received rain again. Later, her son became ill and died. The widow blamed Elijah—questioning why she was being punished.

“Give me your son,” Elijah replied. (1 Kings 17:19)

Elijah took the boy into a room where he earnestly prayed for him and the boy’s life returned. What a joy it must have been to give him back to his mother! This miracle anticipates the raising of the widow’s son by Jesus (see Luke 7:11-17) and the resurrection of Lazarus (see John 11:38-44). In all three cases, God demonstrates the power to bring the dead back to life—only to die again. But all that changed with the resurrection of Jesus—who conquered death and opened eternal life in God’s presence.

We’re all created with eternity in mind—which includes eternal life. Jesus confirms this.  In the Gospel of John chapter 5, Jesus described the general resurrection at the end of the age:

“For a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 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.” (John 5:28-29)

Jesus is saying that everyone—good or bad—will receive eternal life. The question is what our destination will be—and that is determined by our belief in and decision to follow Jesus. The life we live here—saved by grace through faith—will determine where we spend eternity. It’s my prayer, we will choose to trust Jesus and live in response to the grace we’ve received.

Live with eternity in mind, my friends!

Bishop Jeff Greenway