Eternal Life- John 17:3 ESV

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

How would you define eternal life? We think of eternal life in terms of living forever with God. Many people think of eternal life as something that begins after death. But the truth is, eternal life for an individual begins the moment he or she receives Jesus Christ as his or her Savior.

When we receive Christ as our personal Savior, we come to know Him and His Father as well. That’s how Jesus described eternal life. He said in His high priestly prayer to the Father in John chapter 17 that eternal life was knowing the one true God and Jesus Christ. Jesus defined eternal life just after stating that the Father had given Him the authority to grant eternal life to those that the Father had given Him.

Although eternal life actually begins here on earth, the best is yet to come. Eternity in the Kingdom of God with God the Father and Jesus Christ is the ultimate joy. Jesus told His disciples in John chapter 14 that He was going ahead of them to prepare a place for them. And if He prepared a place for them, He would come back and receive them to Himself so that they may be where He is. We will, as the book of Revelation describes, be in God’s kingdom forever. We will behold the glory of the Father and the Son forever.

The only path to eternal life is as Jesus stated, through knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ. If you have not yet received Christ as your Savior, do it today. Eternity is forever. Spend it with God in his Kingdom.