The question of how to have eternal life has been one that has preoccupied many people for many generations.
Living eternally seems to be one of humanity’s oldest longings.
One might therefore think that there is something about death that does not seem natural to us, that we would like to avoid.
Sadly, despite this longing, every day we observe how millions of people appear to be somehow dead while alive.
A situation of hopelessness, a lack of meaning, that seems to communicate to people that it would be preferable not to continue living.
Even we ourselves may have experienced that.
Today, I would like to share with you my reflections on the subject of eternal life and how it can be obtained according to the Bible.
To do so, I invite you to read a short bible text.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts.
Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace that you have been saved.
Ephesians 1:1 – 5
In this portion of the Bible, the apostle Paul is speaking to the church in the city of Ephesus about what it is like to be dead while alive and what it is like to have eternal life.
This group of people had experienced in the past something that the apostle defines as being dead, yet in the present, they no longer lived like this but had received life.
From the perspective of the bible author, the experience of being dead while alive is defined as living a life surrendered to sin.
A life subjected to the influences of evil and seeking the mere satisfaction of low human passions.
Even though it has been nearly two thousand years since these lines were written, in the present we observe how human beings continue to struggle with the same challenge.
We want eternal life, but we often live in a self-destructive way.
This poses an obvious contradiction, since living eternally only makes sense if it is about living a good life.
Obviously, no one would want to prolong a miserable life or dead while alive for all eternity.
Thus, it is necessary to extend the paradigm of eternal life to something that is a life worthy of being lived eternally.
In these verses, eternal life is presented as a better alternative.
Presented as a standard that dignifies human life, as a way of life that elevates man rather than reducing him to an animal state.
Eternal life is presented not only as living forever, but also as a state, a way of living better.
This way of life is based on a new reality, the reality of embracing God’s mercy and accepting his immense love.
God does not want human beings to live by hurting themselves and hurting others.
He loves us so much that He has arranged for us a better chance.
The possibility of living forever with Him.
This is what the Bible calls eternal life.
Today’s verses present a beautiful exposition of the gospel, for they remind us of the exact way in which we can have eternal life.
The text says, “He made us alive,” it also says that God “gave us life together with Christ.”
The path God has arranged for us to have eternal life begins and crosses through Jesus.
Eternal life is obtained from the only hands that can provide it, from the hands that bought it for us.
The hands of Jesus.
In Jesus, we have life.
Eternal life.
A real-life, a better life, a life that is worth living.
Far from Jesus, we live in death.
In self-destruction.
Desecrating our bodies, our minds, destroying our families, stripping us of our dignity.
Far from Jesus, we live with no reason to do good, defeated by what harms us.
Today, I want to invite you to receive the gift of eternal life that God desires to give you.
To do so, ask Jesus for it.
Ask Him to help you accept Him as your source of life.
Ask him to help you accept him as your redeemer and savior.
May He help you give your life and your heart to him.
I hope these words have been a blessing to your life.
And what do you think? Do you want to have eternal life? Share in the comments.
A hug, God bless you.
