SEEK NOT JUST LIFE BUT ETERNAL
LIFE.There is difference between “life” and “eternal life”.For life,all creatures including human beings, animals,birds and plants have got life in them.But in as much as they all have life, not all of them have everlasting life.Eternal life is something else altogether, which one must seek and find: failure to which they will end up living just the here and now life.A life that is but for a while and won’t last forever.
Allthose who have no everlasting life within them will not be raised from death at the last day to eternal life.Rather,they will be destroyed in the lake of fire.Eternal life ,also referred to as abundant life,is found in no one else but Jesus.John 10:10;”….I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”Jesus came that we may have life, that is, have good health and to experience the wonderful qualities of life in the physical.THE QUESTION NOW STANDS;HOW CAN WE RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE?Many people tend to imagine that having good morals, religion and commandment-keeping are what consist in everlasting life.
They, however,fail to know that unless one denies himself fully and decides to follow Jesus, the three are but nothing, so to say.Moral character, commandment-keeping together with a good religion do not guarantee one eternal life.Let’s read the following passage (take note of the phrases highlited in BOLD).
Matthew 19:16-21;”And behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good things shall I do, that I may have ETERNAL LIFE?
And he said unto him,Why callest thou me good?there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou WILL ENTER INTO LIFE,keep the commandments.
He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said,Thou shalt do no murder,Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Honour thy father and thy mother:and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
The young man saith unto him,All these things I have kept from my youth up; what lack I yet?Jesus said unto him,IF THOU WILT BE PERFECT,GO AND SELL THAT THOU HAST,AND GIVE TO THE POOR,AND THOU SHALT HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN:AND COME AND FOLLOW ME.”
Consider the questions this man asked and the answers the Lord Jesus gave in response.First,he asked Jesus what he could do in order to inherit eternal life.Responding to his question, the Lord said that for him to enter life, he should keep the 10 commandments.(Note that Jesus was talking of life and not eternal life.)By this he meant that keeping the ten commandments doesn’t guarantee one eternal life, but, rather it gives them long life in the present world; according to Leviticus 18:5.”Ye shall therefore keep my statutes , and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them:I am the Lord.”The man also enquired to know what he still lacked , given that he’d kept all the commandments.Seeing that this man needed eternal life but not just life, he told him to go and sell all his possessions,and follow him.That is, he had to deny himself,bear his cross and follow Jesus.But since the man was interested in getting a good life here on earth, rather than the eternal life,he went away sorrowful.Yes,he left having a blissful life,but lacked the one most important thing-everlasting life.Brethren reading this message, the Bible says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).The young man we read about was not with bad luck that he was told so by Jesus;to go and sell all he had and follow him.This message also applies to us.Jesus also uttered these words to his disciples before they could follow him;L
14:33;”So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”Forsaking all means to detach oneself from whatever thing that might keep you from doing God’s will.It may mean relegating something we deem to be important to the background or cropping it out of your life altogether.Be it a friend, family, wealth,etc,.
Whatever distracts us from Jesus has to go.This is a vital principle we all need to know.It costs much to enter into eternal life.This means dying to oneself, and daily bearing our own cross and following Jesus.As we read down through the subsequent verses,we see the benefit of taking the cross and serving Christ in self-denial.
Matthew 19:22-29;”But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Then Jesus said unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And again I say unto you,It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle,than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
When his disciples heard it,they were exceedingly amazed, saying,Who then can be saved?
But Jesus beheld them,and said unto them,With man this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold,we have forsaken all,and followed thee;what shall we have therefore?
And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory,ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.
And everyone that hath forsaken houses,or brethren,or sisters,or father,or mother,or wife,or children,or lands, for my name’s sake,shall receive an hundredfold , and shall inherit everlasting life.”Have you denied yourself fully and followed Jesus?Or do you still pin your hopes onto your religion? Remember, this man we’ve read about had a good religious background and had kept all the commandments.
Ye the ended up getting prosperity and good things in this life but lacked eternal life.Therefore, do not be deceived that by having a good denomination will give you a life that lasts forever.Good morals will bring you blessings only in this life.But unless you have Christ reigning within, you have no everlasting life.
If you desire to inherit eternal life,you must lay aside your denomination,fame,and everything else must be cropped out of your life.Humbly go before the Lord as one who has been born today and knows nothing.
Like a sheep ready to be tended.For Lord delights in a contrite and broken spirit.Have you been born again?If not,let this day not pass by before you give your life to Christ.For you never know what tomorrow may bring with it.Look for a Christian who will pray with you,inviting the Lord Jesus into your life.Or you may talk to us about it and we shall be of help.Please share this message with others too.
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Godbless you!
Maran atha!