At the beginning of his prayer in John 17, Jesus says something which may seem obvious to some. However for me, it poses two questions. He says, “Now this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
In my last post, I wrote about the first question: What does it mean to know God? This time, I want to take up the second question—What is eternal life?
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When it comes to heaven, speculation is widespread. There are the literalist, who seem to pretend to be excited about gold streets, white robes, crowns, and a church service that lasts forever.
Others claim to have first-hand personal insight, based on a near death experience, a vision, a spiritual visitation from a deceased loved one, or from Jesus himself.
I don’t pretend to know specific details about our life beyond death, however, I do think that Scripture opens a window on some broad strokes concerning eternal life.
For me, this comes not as literal “photos,” of heaven but as implied truth, derived from the nature of God and the purpose of his creation. I want to share what I believe to be, five truths of eternity. Along the way, I will share a few things that I believe eternal life is not.
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First truth—Eternal life is not our future reward for accepting Jesus and knowing God. As Jesus said, Knowing God and Him is eternal life.
As C.S. Lewis said, “Heaven is not a blue ribbon or a piece of candy given for good behavior, it is life itself in consummation” (Life complete, life fulfilled). Eternal life is the continuing of a journey we have already begun.
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Second truth—Solomon, in Ecclesiastes says, “Everything God does, endures forever.”
Creation was not the first try of an amateur! When God proclaimed His creation “very good,” he meant it—Forever! In the beginning, God created grass, flowers, mountains, oceans, rivers, forests, and prairies. I don’t think that heaven will be pearly gates, gold streets, and mansions.
Romans 8:20-22 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope… The creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
This creation we have known will be brought into eternity. Not a different creation, but this one, liberated from its boundaries, un-groaning, and set free from abuse and decay. It will be this creation—reclaimed, and restored to its true, original, and very good beginning.
The cross of Jesus is not only about forgiveness of our sin, and heaven is not only about saving people. Colossians 1:19-20 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in (Jesus), and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Everything that God does is very good, and everything God does endures forever.
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Third truth—Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.” Some seem to view heaven as a less real spiritual existence. However, God is never a diminisher of life. Our Journey with God is always more fullness of life.
If what lies ahead is less than what we have known in this life, it would actually be, not something to look forward to, but rather something to settle for. Heaven is not a less real existence than the life we have known, it is more real.
In George MacDonalds book, The Golden Key, a boy named Mossy and a girl called Tangle, travel and grow old together. On their journey, they come to a land of shadows—shadows of lakes, mountains, plains, and forests.
Quoting from The Golden Key: “In the middle of the plain they sat down to rest in the heart of a heap of shadows. After sitting for a while, each, looking up, saw the other in tears: they were each longing after the country whence the shadows fell… ‘We must seek the country from whence the shadows come,’ said Mossy. ‘We must, dear Mossy,’ responded Tangle.”
Mossy and Tangle knew that a shadow is cast by something more solid and real which has the same shape as the shadow.
Both C.S. Lewis and George MacDonald spoke of our world as the “shadowlands.” In this life, we see a hint, an echo, an outline, a shadow of the world to come.
One day, the shadows will dissipate, the morning will dawn, the light will break through, and a much richer, deeper, larger, more true, and more real version of this world we have known, will become reality.
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Fourth truth—Jesus calls us to store up treasures in heaven. This is not about being obedient to Jesus in order to get a bigger mansion for myself, or more jewels in a heavenly crown. This Implies that, what we are doing now has a direct relationship to what will be in eternity. So, what are we doing now?
In Matthew 25, Jesus told a story about judgement. He said to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
In this life on earth, we are called by Jesus and the prophets to honor creation, feed the hungry, help the poor, care for the sick, welcome the stranger, visit the prisoner, act justly, love mercy, lift up the broken-hearted, and walk humbly with God…We are called to live in good relationships, be fair with others, and pursue peace.
Now, we live in the shadowlands of life. But by living the reality of humility, justice, mercy, community, compassion, peace, and the care of God’s creation, we bring to this world, a glimpse of “…the land from whence the shadows fall.” As Jesus said, “(We) are the light of the world.” A light in the darkness, as a corrective to this broken world.
One day, the healing and restoration of life and creation will be complete. Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Until that time, we are to store up the “treasures of heaven” as we seek and pursue the healing of God’s world.
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Fifth truth—Jesus said that the kingdom of God has been since the creation of the world. As I have said, what we find in the beginning of creation points to the truth and reality of eternity.
Part of the Genesis story of creation is that our Father has put humanity here to share his creativity and to engage in meaningful work. Heaven is not an eternal vacation from work. And it will not be static, but dynamic and creative.
I don’t know what shape our work and creativity will take in eternity, but it will have meaning and purpose and be freed from the the toxic work distortions that humanity has brought about.
Work will no longer be competitive, to get ahead of others in a race for wealth. Work will not be for personal gain, but for the good of all. It will no longer be a hierarchy where some people are more important than others. It will be free from time restraints, laziness, and obsession. Maybe this tells me something about how I should be at work in this world now.
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This life we are living now is, in the truest sense, preparation for eternal life. What is important here, is important for ever. May we prepare well for what lies ahead.
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