Do You Want to Live Forever?
Eternal Life Given Freely
It is written that the Creator freely gives this eternal life, which is beyond human ability: "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 John 5:11-12). It all comes down to one question—would you like to accept this free gift of eternal life from God?
Eternal life means living forever without end. This endless existence is given by God to all people. However, some religious teachers and philosophers do not desire eternal life because they believe that suffering arises from being alive. They think that if one lives eternally, there will always be problems and pain. Therefore, they reject the idea of wanting such an existence. But this reasoning is flawed—it's merely human thinking and does not reflect truth.
The Creator of life has declared through scripture: "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 John 5:11-12). It boils down to—would you like to accept the free gift of eternal life offered by God?
A Man Who Seeks Eternal Life
Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’” “All these I have kept from my youth,” he said. On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy. (Luke 18:18-23)
This ruler asked about something essential—eternal life—and approached its Owner directly. Yet what he didn’t realize was that no human effort could earn eternal life on his own. So Jesus pointed him toward obedience to the commandments as a starting point. But obeying the law cannot grant eternal life because no one can fully keep it. Why then did Jesus mention the commandments? To reveal sin! The law exposes our shortcomings. "I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, 'Do not covet.'" (Romans 7:7).
Jesus could have expected that the man would recognize his inability to perfectly follow the law. However, the ruler instead insisted he had kept all the commands since childhood—a claim Scripture contradicts by stating clearly that no one is righteous before God. (Romans 3:10, 20; Galatians 3:11).
When Jesus told him to sell everything, give to the poor, and then follow Him, the ruler walked away sorrowful. He loved worldly wealth more than eternal life. Today, many people are similarly captivated by temporary earthly possessions rather than seeking eternal life—they chase after fleeting things with relentless determination. Are you among them? Take a moment to examine your own heart carefully.
Life Is the Spirit
The life of the body is the spirit. This is evident when Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from death: “Her spirit returned, and at once she got up.” (Luke 8:55).
Similarly, regarding Himself, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last. (Luke 23:46). When Jesus entrusted His spirit to the Father, His physical life ended.
The Life of the Spirit Is Jesus
Just as the life of the body is the spirit, so too the life of the spirit is Lord Jesus. He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Paul also wrote that Christ is our very life: “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4). Therefore, if we desire eternal life, we must receive Lord Jesus. Without Him, there can be no eternal life. This is why John declared, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12).
So then—have you ever thought about what it would mean to have the Son in your life? If you haven’t yet, maybe now is a good time to just take that step. The Lord says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20). He is knocking on the door of your heart. When you open it, He will enter and share a meal with you.
But why does Jesus talk about dining? Think about it—He says, “I will dine with him, and he with Me.” Notice the shift here. When He enters your life, you are no longer just hosting Him as a guest; instead, He becomes the one hosting you also. The one who hosts and prepares the meal is certainly the master of the house. He doesn’t come to be served but to serve as Lord and Master: leading you, guiding you, and walking ahead so you don’t have to navigate life alone.
Recap: Do You Want to Live Forever?
Eternal life is far more than a concept—it’s a gift God freely offers through Jesus Christ. As Scripture promises, “Whoever has the Son has life” (1 John 5:12). The rich young ruler wanted eternal life but let his possessions stand in the way of following Jesus. Many people today pursue temporary joys instead of what lasts for eternity—the endless life found with God. But here’s the beautiful truth: eternal life isn’t something we earn; it’s received by welcoming Jesus into our hearts. Let Him take control, lead your steps, and live in you—that is the secret to living forever, starting with the life here on earth and continuing into eternity.
REF726