Scripture promises life everlasting to Christians. Let us look at what this means.

Life. At birth, we are given blood that runs through our veins, lungs to collect oxygen from the air, and many more interwoven bodily functions that make us alive.

But there is a higher level of life available to those who will accept it. In John 3:16 the Apostle John says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (NIV) When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well he said, “whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14 NIV) There is no hint that she would have to hang around until she died before she would receive eternal life. For her then, and for us today, it begins the moment we believe in Christ and turn our lives around to trust and follow him. Read also John 5:24.

Jesus words to Martha before he raised Lazarus from the dead also emphasized both the present and the next-life elements of eternal life. See John 11:25-26

We will live forever. Is it hard to get your head around the concept of forever? Life on earth is but a breath compared to eternity. Francis Chan has addressed the concept of eternity as well as the importance of living with an eternal mindset in this short video.

Don’t wait until you think you are about to die to take eternal life seriously. It can begin today, right now. Seek him with all your heart and you will find him. God’s Word, the Bible, is alive to those who truly desire a relationship with him. Jesus is most clearly portrayed in the New Testament, making that a great place for a new believer or a seeker to begin. Also, find a pastor or Christian friend who spends a lot of time reading the Bible to help you.

As we ponder stepping into the next life, this song “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me, quickens my heart with anticipation.