Eternal Beings

For some, death is considered the absolute end, for others death is the turning of the page to the next chapter of existence.

Comments like "what you do now, here on earth, echoes in eternity" does not reverberate with those who consider death as the End Game. People who do not accept the notion of an eternal afterlife only have memories of the individuals they cared about until death comes calling for them.

For the ones that do not see a hereafter, unless your deeds were well-known and/or documented either as helpful to mankind or harmful - you will not be remembered. The world has the full spectrum of care on being remembered, but one certainty is clear - actions and words go a long way in showing someone's true character and belief in their immortality or lack thereof.

I think purpose alludes many in this world because somewhere along the journey the person believed a lie about self-worth, not measuring up and not being loved. But where shame and defeatism attempt to keep the person down - purpose, hope and love provide direction, destination and relationship.

So, consider this sobering thought - humans are eternal beings. For the one who does not accept that eternity exists, you will now have to exercise a leap of faith. 

This notion of being eternal is not new. The great beyond runs throughout history in many, if not all, of the world's cultures and societies.  

However, within Christianity, the idea not only means you have to deal with death (the payment of a disobedient nature, Romans 6:23) in a miraculous way but you have to account for a moral standard of living provided by a Judge who promises rewards for one's deeds and two eternal destinations based on your decision for or against Christ's life for yours. 

Besides Christ Jesus of Christianity, there is no other faith or belief system that has their main prophet or savior dying for all the mistakes of humanity and conquering death, Hell and the grave. 

"but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." (2 Timothy 1:10)

Therefore, Christ's victory over death has guaranteed victory for the believer and secured the hope that all fellow family and friend believers will be seen again. This same Savior is returning to snatch away His true believers to take them to a Heavenly home He has been preparing.

"For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him." (Romans 6:9)

"For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his." (Romans 6:5)

"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

According to Scripture, Death is a payment that has been made by Christ for our eternal life with Him (Romans 6:16; 6:23), an enemy that has been defeated for our eternal enjoyment of His presence (1 Corinthians 15:26) and a doorway not a destruction through faith in Him.

Death used to be a power under the control of the devil, but since Christ's physical death and resurrection, Jesus took that power away.

"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—" (Hebrews 2:14)

Instead of death on a satanic leash, death is fully conquered and at Christ's disposal. According to Revelation 1:18, Jesus holds the keys of "death and Hades", who is personified in Revelation 6:8 and seen as vanquished into a Second Death in Revelation 20:14. Jesus promises if you accept Him as Lord and Savior and live His lifestyle, you will not experience this Second Death -

"Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death." (Revelation 2:11)

"Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6)

For everyone, believers and non-believers alike, a healthy respect for death is good. In many cases humanity focuses on or worries a lot about the end of our physical life and not our eternal one. About this Jesus said, 

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28)

In the meantime, Christians are to live in light of this victory over death. Paul admonishes us that while we are alive, here on earth, a lifestyle unconnected from Christ is dead and unfruitful, while being connected to Christ or in The Vine is living and produces fruit. One way Paul says it is like this - 

"The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." (Romans 8:6) 

So, who is governing your mind?

From our first breath we become eternal beings. Because of humanity's disobedience to God, otherwise known as sin, our default eternal destination was set with the fallen angels - Hell. 

Should someone not choose faith in Christ, their eternal life continues as a eternal damnation and will go through the doorway of death and end separated from God's favor in Hell, awaiting The Lake of Fire, the Second Death.

Now that Christ has come and supplied the choice of faith in Him as our redeeming, victorious sacrifice - we also can have victory over death, Hell and the grave. Should someone choose faith in Christ Jesus, eternal life is promised.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." (John 3:18)

Before The Fall of humanity through Adam and Eve, God made mankind, male and female, in His image - to be eternal beings. Now, many thousands of years later, that eternal status remains but an eventual, eternal destination has changed from certainty to choice in Christ Jesus and His plan of salvation for all.

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

What will you do now? How will you respond to Christ's invitation to be His son/daughter? How will you move forward and live knowing we are all Eternal Beings?