John 11:17–27 ‘Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die’ (v25)
Looking at life through the lens of God’s Spirit only makes sense once we are assured of eternal life. Jesus promised we will enjoy resurrection and enter into glory with a life that can never die. Scripture, as here with the story of Lazarus, includes a number of illustrations of people who were resuscitated; that is, brought back to mortal life always knowing they would die again.
Jesus was the first to be resurrected to live forever, never to die again. If we place our hope in Jesus’ redemption then our perishable body of flesh and bone will rise imperishable (1 Cor. 15:42–44). It is in the knowledge of our eternal future that we can, with equanimity, endure our mortal residency on earth. Christianity lays a significant emphasis on the promise of God to meet us on the other side of death and give us an eternity, the ability to live forever. The idea of heaven is not some ethereal dream, but a substantial reality, as real as Jesus’ appearances after His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:5–8).
Learning to live with the confidence that the best is yet to come can seem unrealistic; yet eternity is, whilst unseen, the greatest reality there can ever be. Timeless, it lies beyond the capacity of human reason to define or delineate it. Choosing to live this way is not to avoid life’s challenges but to find the faith to live confidently by God’s values in the good, bad and indifferent experiences we encounter.
Scripture to consider: Prov. 8:32–36; Dan. 10:1–12; John 5:16–30; 1 Cor. 15:35–58.
An action to take: Is it appropriate to take some time to anticipate eternity, and so live your life within the radiance of its light and life?
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, may each moment of my mortal life reveal an aspect of Your glorious life. Amen.’
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