July - 3
ETERNAL LIFE IS . . .
“This is eternal life, that they may know you, the . . . true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3
In a class I teach, I often ask the students, “What is eternal life?” Though the question may sound simple, the answer is not simple at all.
Some people think eternal life means we will never die. But funeral processions and cemeteries show that death is a fact we can’t escape in this world. Others suggest that eternal life means “going to heaven.” Then, of course, we need to define heaven and ask whether eternal life involves our bodies as well as our souls.
John 17 offers a different definition of eternal life. Jesus shows that eternal life is first of all about knowing God. It’s about having a relationship with God
Now this knowing is not simply knowing about God, or simply admitting that God exists. Knowing God means being intimately connected with God. And the key component to that connection involves knowing Jesus Christ, whom the Father has sent into this world to reconcile us to himself.
Though Christ promises Paradise to all who trust in him, eternal life is not first about getting to heaven. Nor is it first about living forever, though in Christ we look forward to life in a new creation. Eternal life begins already today. That’s why we nurture this new life in God through prayer and Bible study. That’s why we get rid of behaviors that set up roadblocks to God’s presence.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, you are the way, the truth, and the life. Help us to find true life today in our relationship with you and your Father. In your name we pray. Amen.
在我教授的某一课程中，我时常问学生：「永生是甚么？」这个问题听来似乎简单，但答案却并不简单呢。
有些人认为，永生就是我们永远不会死亡。然而，丧礼行列和坟场显示，死亡是世人不能逃避的事实。另有些人则表示永生是「上天堂」，那么，我们当然需要定义何为天堂、并且要追问永生是否同时包括了我们的肉身和灵魂。
约翰福音17章对永生有不同的定义。耶稣指出，永生最重要的是认识神，永生就是与神建立关系。
这所说的认识不是单单知道关乎神的事情，或单单承认神的存在。认识神的意思是与神有亲密的联系，而这一联系的关键在于认识蒙父神差遣到世上来的耶稣基督，祂来是要叫我们与神和好。
虽然基督应许，凡相信祂的人都得进天堂乐园，但永生最重要的并不是上天堂。我们虽然在基督里盼望活在新天新地里，但永生最重要的也不是永远活着。永生在今天已经开始了，所以我们要借着祷告和读经，来培育我们在神里的新生命，所以我们要除去妨碍我们来到神面前的行为。
祷告
主耶稣，是道路、真理、和生命。求祢今天帮助我们，在与祢和与父的交往中，找到真正的生命。奉祢的名祈求，阿们。