His promise to us - 1 John 2:25

"This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life." (1 John 2:25)

The promises of God are greater than the promises of the Law. The Law promises us only temporal blessings. "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you." (Exodus 20:12) However, God promises us eternal blessings, including eternal life. The difference could not be greater. The Law promises long life while Christ promises eternal life.

There is not much to be said about such a clear and unequivocal statement, except to cause us to pause and reflect on our present life in light of the life we have yet to possess. There is a real since that we presently have eternal life and that that life started when we first believed. Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life." (John 6:47) He did not say "will have," but "has." We who believes already have eternal life. However, there is still something of that eternal life that has yet to be possessed; something promised that still lies ahead of us. "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." (Revelation 21:3-4)

This scripture calls us to consider our present life in light of the life that has been promised to us. Knowing the eternal life that is to be ours, how can we spend our lives here living for worldly possessions and pleasures? How can we give our lives to temporal things when we have been destined for eternity? How can we allow the cares of this world to distract us from our pursuit of heavenly riches? How can we live as dead when we shall forever be alive?

This scripture is not only a promise, but also an exhortation; to live life as if we are already living in eternity. One day our physical life will come to an end, but that will only be a beginning, a beginning of a life with no end, a life spent in eternity with God.

David Robison