Eternal Life

I tell you the solemn truth, the one who believes has eternal life. (John 6:47, NET Bible)



One might ask, “What else is there to a walk with Christ Jesus?” Well, friends, we have to unpack this statement a little bit or else our very belief becomes our undoing. Jesus is real. Of that much, I am sure. But I am also reminded of James’ words in James 2:19, “You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear.” Do demons not have eternal life? Or are they mortal like you and I?

I don’t mean to scare anyone (or maybe I do) but knowing that Jesus is Lord does not guarantee one’s place in heaven. It only guarantees one’s place in eternity. The implications of truth are as dire as they get. That is why even Jesus spends so much time spelling things out to us in John’s sixth chapter. The language He uses is symbolic in nature but literal in meaning. I’m not going to use a lot of quotes in this brief devotion but I invite you to read that chapter in its entirety and prayerfully consider Jesus’ lesson as well as my words to you today.

It’s not enough, simply to believe that Christ is Lord. One needs to incorporate Him into the very fabric of one’s life. Every single thing one does or thinks or feels must be the result of Jesus being the foundation of one’s being. He must permeate all of one’s existence at even a cellular level. That is what He is telling us when He tells us that we must eat His flesh and drink His blood. We must faithfully devour His Word in careful and prayer-filled study. Spending the time to carefully chew and savor every single morsel as the delectable delicacy that it is. We need to spend time in prayer, drinking the holy blood of His Spirit and basking in its life giving flow of energy. They are true food and true drink that supply true and faithful believers with true life!

Imagine the worshipful implications when we cling to such a concept as we approach the communion altar (either actually or figuratively) and are handed the communion elements. The bread reminds us of all the faithful time we’ve spent with Christ in His Word just as the blood brings to mind all the time we have spent with our Lord in the essential conversation of prayer. We realize at that point, that everything Christ Jesus ever said he said to us. Everything that Jesus ever did and everything that was done to Him was done precisely for us at this exact moment. We are cut to the quick. Such undeserved love and sacrifice is unimaginable in this day and age. But it is exactly this upon which our faith must hang or else our belief is in vain. Or even worse it is a condemnation to our very souls.

Lord we believe! Help our unbelief! Be our everlasting Lord and fill us with your all pervading presence for ever and ever, AMEN.

Open your Bible today, and read John’s sixth chapter and let the words of Christ Jesus transform you existence. Be blessed.

Christopher C.Randolph