Eternal Life Doesn’t Start at the Grave

Eternal life is maybe the most unfortunate cliche in the Bible. That’s not to say that eternal life itself is unfortunate, but rather Christian culture has painted it in a way that really isn’t biblical and has instead made it seem simple. Our goal shouldn’t be to simply ask Jesus into our hearts, avoid sin, and go to heaven as our reward; we should seek out ways to bring heaven to Earth and spread the benefits of salvation while we’re here.

This blog was originally published to Calvary of Neosho’s Medium channel. Check out more of my writing there, where it lives alongside some great words from other strong leaders of our church!

We were created to have rest, rule, and relationship with each other and with God. Genesis 2 tells about the start of humanity in an incredibly specific and intentional way that involves the Garden of Eden as a place where God and people dwelled together. This was complicated tremendously by The Fall in Genesis 3 where Adam and Eve chose the tree of knowledge of good and evil rather than the tree of life. From then until Jesus came, humanity endured turmoil in separation from its Creator.

Throughout the first four books of the New Testament, though, we see Jesus preaching early and often about the coming kingdom of God. In Mark 1:14–15 ESV, immediately following Jesus’ baptism, He began His ministry by saying, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” That last word — gospel — is translated from the Greek word Euangelion which plainly means “good news.” And it is!

If you were a Jew in the first century AD, that term would’ve rung a bell for you. Isaiah 52:7 ESV says, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news…” By now, this ought to sound familiar to us in the 21st Century after hearing what Jesus was teaching throughout Galilee.

In short, the good news is that God sent the Messiah that was mentioned by Israel’s leaders and prophets from Moses onward; really, even earlier than that, back when God told Abraham his people would be a blessing to all nations. You’ll remember John 3:16, a verse that’s become so familiar that we don’t always grasp it. And Jesus didn’t come to rule with the sword and a heavy hand; He came to rule in love, lifting up the poor in spirit, those who mourn, and more as he talks about during the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3–11).

Jesus reinforces this concept tirelessly throughout His teachings on Earth. He speaks on it in John 5:24 by saying, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” The fact that Jesus says “has passed” instead of “will pass” means a lot.

It comes together in a sublime way in John 17. This is when Jesus prays to God for Himself, His disciples, and then all believers. It starts early in the chapter as in verse 3 ESV, Jesus says, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” He goes on to humbly ask God that His glorification be fulfilled through Him, the Son. This is the core theme of verses 1–5.

In verses 6–19, Jesus speaks on behalf of His disciples. You’ve got to remember what their assignment was — to further the kingdom of God after Christ’s resurrection. Jesus knew they’d face hardships and would likely be killed for their faith, too. That’s why, in verses 14–16 ESV, He says, “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

Then Jesus goes on to intercede for all believers in verses 20–25. It’s inclusive on purpose because Jesus didn’t come to save the few; He came to save humanity through His sacrifice of Himself. This is the type of love we should pour out in everything we do, claiming eternal life right now and spreading the benefits of salvation so we honor His prayer to God in this passage.

Jesus closes by saying, “O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (‭‭John‬ ‭17:25–26‬ ‭ESV).‬‬

That’s the hook. The love with which God loved Jesus should be in us, just as He is when we enter into salvation. That’s when eternal life starts — not at the grave. It’s a mighty tall order to spread the kingdom of God, and while we may think of ourselves as puny humans, remember that we’re collectively made in God’s image. This means we mirror Him when we’re acting in love, serving others before ourselves. Heaven overlaps with earth when God’s people reflect Him and His Son.