They stood over his bed watching as one by one each breath was more and more difficult to take. With a rising chest and a gargling noise in his throat, it seemed as if life just hung on and hung on. When would he take his last? When would be the final moment when the disease would win? When would his pain be over and his body finally be at rest? And then, the ultimate question, will he continue to live? Is there life eternal, and if there is, how do we know it? John the apostle has been helping us with these last few questions in his words written in First John chapter five and verse twenty: He wrote:
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Yesterday we learned that those who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior have been given an understanding that Jesus Christ is God and in Him is Eternal Life. Let's look even further into this idea of eternal life and John's concern for us knowing about it. Jesus said in the gospel of John chapter seventeen and verse three:
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
If we desire eternal life, we must know the only true God and Jesus Christ. John as a caring spiritual father who was so close to Jesus that he was entrusted with His mother has a purpose in writing this book. He desires that we all come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ and that we all obtain eternal life through Him. If it hasn't been clear enough throughout the first four chapters and nineteen verses of chapter five of John's book, this verse makes it very clear. Eternal life is found by having a relationship and fellowship with God who is Jesus Christ the one true God.
Death was defeated by Jesus Christ, and because He rose from the grave, now everyone who believes in Him has the promise that they too shall have eternal life. Some day those who care for us may watch us breathe our last, and some may declare, “Well, that's the end of him or her”. When that time comes, for those of us who know Jesus, we will answer, “Oh no it isn't. Oh no it isn't. I'm alive forevermore to be with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Next time we shall take a look at the last verse of this wonderful book and see how John finishes his words, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
Thanks be to Christ!
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