Bound by Time, or Living in Eternity?
Submitted by theshovel
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PDF versionI was about to write something else when my attention was snagged by the date: February 1, 2000. So much attention had been put on Y2K, and the momentous day came ... nothing happened out of the ordinary ... and now one month of this new year has already gone by. That's 1/12th of the year. And it seems just the blink of an eye. And there's no indication of a slow-down any time soon! Sometimes it just makes my head go into a spin, though I'm sure that doesn't happen to any of you. :)
Now, I have no intention of suggesting to you that time is irrelevant ... I can't fit an argument of that size into my schedule! :) But I will ask you this: Does Time keep you from Eternity? Let me put it another way: Do you view "Eternal Life" as something that will happen after you die?
Consider this
And this is eternal life, that they might know You, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3
And this
and the life was manifested, and we have SEEN and testify and proclaim to you THE ETERNAL LIFE, which was with the Father and was manifested to us -- 1 John 1:2
Sounds like eternal life is defined as a relationship and as a person. Why do we usually interpret John as saying AFTER-life instead of ETERNAL-life?
What if we really HAVE eternal life NOW (as John had often stated)? What if the relationship we have with the Father and the Son is the very stuff of eternity? Doesn't it seem rather absurd to wait for something we already have as if ONE day it will come?
Paul encouraged Timothy to
take hold of the eternal life to which you were called 1 Timothy 6:12
If you ever considered the verse to be teaching that eternal life was something to be GAINED then you need to read it again. I saw a sci-fi flick years ago where an old man was telling this young kid to "Grab hold of life with both hands". He wasn't being told to GET life, but to LIVE life. Eternal life is what we have been called to. We already got it. Are we acting like it's yet to come? Or are we grabbing hold with both hands and realizing that THIS IS THE LIFE WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO? This life is Christ in you, the hope of glory!
Until next time .....
scoopfully yours,
the shovel (aka "Jim")
Comments
Re: Bound by Time, or Living in Eternity?
Posted: February 2, 2000 by Bruce
Jim,
The more I read your writings the more I realize how ONE we are! You really ARE ETERNAL...aren't you!?! If you keep this stuff up you are going to take away a lot of peoples "mansions on a hilltop" and their "cabins in the corner of glory".
That's OK though. I had to have mine taken away too so I could REALIZE that the many "rooms" or mansions He was preparing were places for HIMSELF to dwell in...US! We are the "rooms" that make up HIS HOUSE...HIS HABITATION! ITS NOW! JUST LIKE YOU SAID!!! GLORY!!! When abide in HIM and HE abides in us WE ARE walking on "streets of gold". HIS LIFE! KEEP ON KILLING THOSE SACRED COWS and opening up those blind eyes and deaf ears!
Posted: February 2, 2000 by Tony
Hi Jim,
He who believe's on me "HAS" eternal life.! john 3:36
Have you noticed . . . "That's past tense"
But what is the difference between eternal life and everlasting life ?
thanks....Tony
Hello Tony, how ya doing, bro? Hope to see you sometime soon ... I miss you.
There is no difference between eternal and everlasting life. The word "everlasting" is the KJV misinterpretation of the word translated by most as "eternal".
Jim
Posted: February 2, 2000 by Paul
Jim,
This sounds pretty familiar LOL.
Eternal life isn't out there someplace waiting to happen to you. It began the moment you got saved and Jesus began to live his eternal life through you.... Thus the name of our ministry, EternityNow. [Jesus] has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. (Heb 7:16)
Posted: February 2, 2000 by Becki
Jim,
This was really good. I love getting your shovelletters. I especially enjoy the way you "chat" with people in your letters. What a gift!
Posted: February 2, 2000 by Debbie
I think the day we enter eternity will be a breath of fresh air a continuation of the day. But ever so glorious in the presence of God. Goose bumps thinking about it.
Hi Debbie,
Yes, it definitely will be a continuation ... I almost included a note in the Shoveletter saying that very thing. I didn't, mainly because I was desirous of provoking a few goosebumps about our PRESENT reality of being in the presence of God. :)
Love, Jim
Posted: Jul-24-05 by hello
keep it coming
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