What Is Eternal Life?

Sounds like a simple question, doesn't it - what is eternal life? Well, it's life that's eternal, right? Yes, but what is the "life" that lasts forever?

Jesus gave us a glimpse of what that life means in John 17:3 "And this is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

Eternal life then is having a relationship with the only true God through Jesus. It's not just never dieing, it's not just freedom from disease, it's not sitting on the clouds playing harps and being bored.

As we know on earth, the things that really matter to us are not the things we acquire, the positions we attain, or the accomplishments we have done - it is the people, the relationships that matter most.

It's the same way in the eternal. It won't matter how many crowns you get or if your mansion is closer to Saint Peter than your buddy's. What matters is knowing God.

Look at it another way, what is eternal death? Eternal death then is not knowing God - being as far away from Jesus as you can possibly get. If that's what you want, then that's what you'll get.

It might sound okay until you realize that God holds everything that is good, all peace, all joy, all intimacy, all satisfaction.

All God wants is for us to realize our need of Him, and then come through His Son to have that eternal relationship, that eternal life.

Pastor Tom

Which Future Do you Want?

In John 11, word comes to Jesus that his good friend Lazarus is sick. If you know the story, Jesus waited and didn't go right away. Not until Lazarus had been dead for a few days did He arrive.

When the Lord arrived at Bethany He asked to be taken to Lazarus' tomb where we find the shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept."

Seeing Jesus cry, those around had two reactions. One group noted how much He loved Lazarus. The other said "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?" (John 11:37)

The answer to that question was yes. Jesus could have come and simply healed Lazarus. For that matter, He could simply have said the word and the disease would have left. He chose to wait for death to perform the greater miracle.

So for us, sometimes when we face difficulty, trial, turmoil, depression, tragedy - when we pray, what do we expect of God? Do we expect Him to get us out of the jam we are in, and if He doesn't are we disappointed like the people at Lazarus' tomb?

My encouragement to us today is not to despair if the worst happens and God doesn't stop it. Don't be mad at God or think He doesn't love you. Perhaps He waits in order to perform the greater miracle - using your life, as broken as it is, as a testimony so that others will love Him the more and come out of their own tomb into the abundant life that comes with knowing Jesus.

Pastor Tom

Judgement

Judgment is a harsh word, one we like to avoid. Paul has a lot to say about God's judgment in Romans 2. At our church we are going through Romans right now and you can check out that teaching here.

Judgment is basically God making a decision about us. That decision is based on evidence. The evidence is what we have said and done in our lives. God is the only one who can make a right decision because he isn't tainted by the fallen world around us and our own nature, which makes us see everything in a slanted way.

But in reality, there is only one decision that God makes and one decision you make. That decision determines the outcome of judgment. We read about it in John 3:

3:16"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light lest his works should be exposed. 21But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."

God doesn't want anyone to miss eternal life. In the end, the decision you make as to whether to accept God's free gift is the most important decision you will ever make. It's not about how good you are, it's about whether you know Jesus, God's Son.

No huge insights today, just the simple truth of the gospel, a truth that couldn't be more important!

Pastor Tom

The Two Confused Guys

There's a wonderful story in Luke 24 about two guys who have left Jerusalem and were headed to Emmaus. Three days after the crucifixion they are talking about nothing else. Then this stranger joins them on the road and asks them what all the fuss is about.

They explain about Jesus being crucified and buried, then some unsubstantiated reports that he was alive. Jesus then says to them: "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!"

And Jesus began what was probably the most wonderful Bible study ever - explaining from Moses and the prophets everything concerning the Messiah.

I just wanted to point out two things from this event. The first is that the guys where genuinely interested in the things of the Rescuer, but were confused how it all fit together. If you are wondering what all the fuss about Jesus is, but confused what it all means and having problems separating out fact from fiction, you are not alone. In fact, I think most people start out their journey trying to understand Jesus a bit confused. That's a ploy of the enemy to keep us from knowing the real truth.

The second thing is what Jesus did, he took them on a journey through the Scriptures and explained it to them. It really does take the Holy Spirit revealing the awesome truth about Jesus to our hearts as we seek to understand Him through the Bible.

My encouragement to us today is that if you feel confused by the Bible, ask the Lord Himself to explain it to you. Don't worry if you don't understand it all, the most important thing is that from Moses through the prophets and on to the book of the Revelation - it's all about Jesus. Just knowing that sets you on the right path every time!

Pastor Tom

A Tale of Two Rich Men

You've probably read the two stories in Luke 18 of the rich ruler, and in Luke 19 of Zacchaeus, the "wee little man" who climbed up in a sycamore tree.

I never really saw the connection between these two stories until today.

Both men were rich, and neither had salvation. But some key differences can help us understand why one went away from his encounter with Jesus lost, and the other saved.

The rich ruler came to Jesus wanting to know how to get eternal life. He felt like he was a very righteous man, observing the law carefully since his youth. Jesus told him that he needed to sell all he had, give to the poor, and then follow Him. The man went away disappointed because he was very rich.

Zacchaeus was considered a very bad man who stole from the poor. But Zacchaeus was curious about Jesus and got as close as he could. Jesus then came to him and basically invited himself over to his house.

The response was incredible. Zacchaeus declared that he was going to do what the ruler would not, sell of his possessions and give to the poor, and make right any wrongs he had done. Jesus then said that "salvation has come to this house ... for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (19:9)

The difference between the two involves the approach and what held them. The ruler wanted something from Jesus, but was not willing to give what Jesus wanted, his heart. Zacchaeus just wanted Jesus and was willing to give anything to get Him.

In the end, it's not about what we have (or has us) but who we have (or has us).

Pastor Tom

What About You?

One of the most common questions people have is "what about the natives in Africa? If they haven't heard the gospel then how can God judge them fairly?"

That's a legitimate question but there is actually a more important question to ask first, what about you? Have you heard the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Jesus made an interesting observation to this point in Luke 13. Some folks were asking Jesus about an event they had heard of where Pontius Pilate had mixed the blood of some Galileans with their pagan sacrifices.

Jesus said, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

We worry about the others that have not heard and it keeps us from realizing our peril. The human condition is terminal, and not just physically, but spiritually. We are in need of a rescuer and the only one that has arisen that actually proved he was up to the job was Jesus.

Worry about yourself first, then worry about the Africans (like we do).

Pastor Tom