What exactly is eternal life? If you’re thinking about living your current life forever, you probably have the wrong idea. Your current life has pain and suffering mixed into it. True eternal life is improved in both its quality and its quantity (see here).
Beyond this, Jesus speaks a clear definition as He prays to the Father.
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
John 17:3
This makes sense, doesn’t it? Only a few chapters earlier Jesus proclaimed He is life.
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
To know Jesus is to have eternal life: Life to the fullest. Abundant life. Life you can begin to experience now but won’t fully experience until this time on earth has passed. In this context, we can say that knowing Jesus is having an ongoing relationship with Him. In other words, you don’t have to know Him completely to have eternal life. You only need access to the way. You’ve received eternal life (it’s done); you’re receiving eternal life (as you know Jesus more and more), and you’ll receive eternal life (when you leave your current physical body).
If you know Jesus you have eternal life, not temporary life. Eternal life is unending in duration but it is more. You have abundant life, not insufficient life. Eternal life is the fullest sense of life. You can live the high life. The worldly definition of high life is an extravagant or luxurious style of living.
Jesus is inviting you into the spiritual high life. The spiritual high life is to have spiritual eyes which enable you to see and know God’s spiritual realities. You can grow in knowing God’s goodness, experiencing the full depth and breadth of eternal life.
Matt’s books,
, ,
and 
, contain practical exercises that help God’s truth spring to life.
Leave a Reply