Eternal Life In Christ

Depending on how old you are, you may be familiar with Frank Sinatra’s hit song, “My Way,” whose lyrics reflect on life and its end. A repeated sentiment in the song, “I did it my way,” resonated with people when it first came out as well as today. People pride themselves in forging their own path, being self-driven, independent, and in charge of their destiny. 

When it comes to God and eternal matters, many people buck at the idea of absolute truth. They believe in pluralism, which embraces the idea that there is more than one way to heaven. However, in spite of what people believe, Jesus was clear that there is only one Way to heaven and that is through faith in Him.

John 14:6 records Jesus’s declaration, “‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” 

Acts 4:12 affirms the absolute necessity of trusting Jesus as the way to eternal life in heaven. “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Jesus is not only the Way, but He also made the way for us to have eternal life. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross paid our sin debt. God has given us free will to accept or reject Jesus. The Bible warns that those who do not believe in Christ and don’t obey the gospel of Jesus will face eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). Those who accept Christ are made righteous through Him and will inherit eternal life (Matthew 25:46). Have you said “yes” to the Way to eternal life? 

Lord, thank You for being the WAY to eternal life. I’m grateful beyond words and give You all praise. Bring into my life those with whom I can share that You are the way, the truth, and the life.

To learn more about Jesus as the Way to eternal life, watch Debbie’s teaching on John 14 HERE or listen to it HERE. 

Several years ago, the world was sickened by the confirmation that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi had been confirmed dead after being tortured in a Saudi consulate. Can you, would you, expect to see him walking around and eating with family and friends after his death was confirmed? No, of course not. Does that help us better grasp why people didn’t believe that Jesus was alive after they witnessed His torturous scourging and crucifixion?

Matthew 28:6 gives the shocking angelic announcement to Mary as she stood outside Jesus’ empty tomb. “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.” In addition to Mary and the disciples seeing the resurrected Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 says that more than 500 eyewitnesses saw Jesus after His resurrection.

The grave couldn’t hold Jesus because He is life. He gives eternal life to everyone who acknowledges they are a sinner and asks forgiveness in His name. People are dying every day because of natural causes, disease, and senseless evil random shootings. None of us know when the life of our family, friends, and neighbors will end. It is time for us to be bold and lovingly ask those who are unsaved, “Do you know where you will be when you die?” “Gentle Boldness” is the title of one of one of the chapters in the book I wrote, Discovering His Passion. Prepare yourself to share Christ with others.

Jesus, RISEN LORD, I celebrate You—the giver of eternal life. Help me gently, but boldly share You with others. 

Debbie taught about Jesus’ resurrection and how He appeared to Mary Magdalene and His disciples in her teaching on John 20. To watch the full teaching, click HERE. To listen to it, click HERE. 

Can you imagine the conversations that took place after God raised Jesus from the dead? 

Some didn’t believe it at first. 

Others couldn’t help but acknowledge His resurrection because they saw Jesus, touched Him, and observed Him eating fish. He wasn’t a ghost. He wasn’t a figment of their imagination. 

Five hundred people witnessed seeing the resurrected Prince of Life. In other words, Jesus is life, and He walked right back into their lives.

Acts 3:15 says, “…[you] put to death the Prince of Life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.”

Is the Prince of Life walking in our life? Are we aware of His presence? Are we experiencing His peace within ourselves? Are we mindful that just as He is alive and not in the grave, our loved ones who have died are not dead but alive, and that we won’t be dead even though our body is in the grave? 

The Prince of Life is with us when we walk the corridor of death. We and our loved ones will never be alone. We need not fear.

Lord Jesus, I praise You, the ever-present, eternal PRINCE OF LIFE. 

Our key verse today is Acts 3:15. To watch all of Debbie’s teaching on Acts 3, click HERE or listen to it HERE.