Question: When will our eternal life start? The moment we die? Or At our resurrection and thereafter when we stand at Jesus Bema Seat of Judgement? Luke 17:20 : “One day the Pharisees asked Jesus “When will the Kingdom of God begin?” Jesus replied , “ The Kingdom of God isn’t ushered in with visible signs“.
Answer: Praise the Lord! Greetings to you in Jesus wonderful name.
So what is eternal life in reality! Is it the life that starts the moment we die physically? Is it the life in our resurrection body, or is it the rewards that Jesus gives us all, at the time of the Bema Seat Judgment for believers that make us realize the reality of our eternal life? A very thoughtful question indeed.
Yes when the Pharisees asked Jesus, "When will the Kingdom of God begin?” Jesus replied , “ The Kingdom of God isn’t ushered in with visible signs (Luke 17:20), but He did not stop there, but went on further to teach humans about the reality of eternal life by saying further, "21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” In short, people were expecting visible signs and physical manifestation of the Kingdom of God which they could feel with their five senses.
But Jesus lifted their eyes to the reality of heaven that can be present within their spirit when they believe Him and become "born again" (John 3:3), so that the realization of God's Kingdom could be tangibly felt by them within spiritually when they really hear the voice of Jesus through their spirit (Rev 19:10), the voice of the King of the Kingdom of God which carries power to experience it and follow him the rest of their lives (Eccl 8:4)! Hallelujah!
Also if we could dig a little deeper in to the Greek word, 'eternal life', we could exactly understand this subject deeply. Eternal life is not just that - eternal, which means "forever" and in a literal sense it means when life ends here, it continues in heaven with God. But rather the word 'Zoe' specifically is used in the Bible. It means eternal life or “The God-kind of life.” The. rich abundant divine nature of God; His fullness of love, joy, power and ability.
While modern translations define Zoe as "life," "vitality," or even "soul," Biblical explanations of the word Zoe are more complex. Experts on Biblical scripture define "zoe" as eternal life or life that is possessed by a divine being, such as the one and only God who is the Creator of all things. Zoe is a gender-neutral name of Greek origins, meaning “life.” In the third century, Alexandrian Jews translated the Hebrew name Eve to its Greek equivalent, Zoe.
Actually Jesus describes this in explaining eternal life, that is to know the Father who is the one and only true creator God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent to reveal that 'zoe' life within their spirit so that they "may be perfect in one" (John 17:23). What is this one? One is the "one spirit with Him" (1 Cor 6:17). The Bible uses the phrase eternal life in a positive sense, that is, we become one interpenetratively with God, who shares this eternal "Zoe" quality of life that He enjoys always, in His pleasure He chooses to share with us now more and more, as we seek to please Him now and live the rest of our eternity with Him in heaven in His glory, that glory which we will actually receive at the time of our resurrection and further at the Bema seat of judgment (2 Cor 5:8; Rom 8:18). Eternal Life is a God-quality of life that begins on earth in a progressive way and continues in heaven, but most importantly it is a calling given by God to all the believers as long as they are alive physically, so that by choice they should learn to walk in the newness of 'Zoe' life, to live it loud as a testimony and witness before the world to bring glory to God, who has chosen them before the foundation of the world (Romans 6:4; Eph 1:4). Thus we can choose to reject self and embrace that 'zoe' life 24/7/365 by choosing to rejoice in the Lord always, no matter what happens outside of us physically or soulishly or socially (Php 4:4). People like apostle Paul and his apostolic company who practiced 'Zoe', were seen by the world as mad (Acts 26:26-27), because they were really mad to fulfill the will of God and to please Him all the time so that even when they were put in prison for telling people everywhere about Him and this eternal life, they still sang and rejoiced in the Lord (Acts 16:25-34)!
The realms of Zoe is mentioned in the Bible in the book of Colossians chapter 1, verse 10. It is a ever increasing life of God within us as we learn to walk with Him day by day until we see Him one day face to face in heaven, and live in His eternal glory which He shares with His sons who will inherit His Kingdom (Matt 25:34). Truly, heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. Hallelujah!
This is true eternal life! GLORY.....!
Much Blessings....
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment