Today’s Scripture: John 17:3, BSB- “Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”
Do you think of eternal life as what occurs after our physical deaths? John 17:3 tells us eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ. We can know God and Jesus now and not after we die. To get to know someone we must spend time with them, have conversations, and ask questions. When we do not do these things, we do not really know them, do we?
When we learn new things about people it can change our perspectives on them and ourselves. My perspectives are often changed as God’s Word reveals His heart. Even as humans, when we share our hearts with each other we get to know one another better. In the week seven, day three groundwork lesson in Re:generation entitled “Eternal Life Starts Today” I received the biblical reference for something I have believed for years. We do not need to look to some future revelation to know God and Jesus, we can know and live with them now.
Knowing someone is much different than knowing about them. I have often said that alcoholism was the best thing that ever happened to me because it took me from knowing about God to knowing Him. In my brokenness I found God because I was desperate to know Him. Everything else I knew was falling apart as Step One in recovery tells us, my life had become unmanageable. I now know the truth of Step Two that promises that God and His Son Jesus Christ are the only way that we can be restored to sanity.
Do you really believe that God restores us only so we can be sane? Of course not, we were created for more. Thankfully, God uses our insanity for His glory. I can relate to Jesus in John 17:1 “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” (NIV)
We should not expect or desire any glory for our disobedience. However, God has proven in the bible and our current days that He will use restoration stories to glorify Himself. I had an eye opening thought this morning, reading John 17:2 “ For You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him.” (BSB)
God gave Jesus authority but also “those” He had given Him to give eternal life. Of course, God gave Jesus all people but what if there are those God has given to us? Wait, what? Jesus alone can save us all but are there those people God has given to us to bring to Jesus?
This could be a misinterpretation but what if it is not? Is it possible that God created us for such a purpose and such a people as this? To help another human come to know Him and Jesus Christ.
The only way I know for us to help others is to glorify how God and Jesus helped us get to know them. If there are those God gave to us, let us glorify Him by helping them know they can live eternal life today.
Do you know God and Jesus?
Today’s Prayer: Father God, thank You for making it possible for us to live in eternal life today by knowing You and Your Son Jesus that You sent for all of us. Please glorify the restoration You have made in us so we may glorify You before those You have given to each of us. Open our hearts, minds, and souls to know You so we can help make You known to those You intend. In the name of Jesus Christ who has been given to us, Amen.
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