Follow the Path to Eternal Life

There was much space given for eulogies of the celebrated atheistic essayist, Christopher Hitchens. Even those who disagreed strongly with Hitchens enjoyed his writings and praised his independence and courage. Nevertheless, Hitchens was not just an atheist; he was an anti-theist, as well as anti-religion, believing it spoils everything. He said so in his book, God Is Not Great.

In his suffering and death, he did not change his mind about God and the possibility of a life to come, although he did appreciate the good wishes from everyone, including Christians who were praying for him.

During a debate, Hitchens spoke of death and said, "It will happen to all of us that at some point, you get tapped on the shoulder and told not just that the party's over, but slightly worse: The party's going on, but you have to leave." We Christians have a different point of view. However much we enjoy this life, we believe that when we leave this earth we actually are going to the party and that party will never end.  - J. Michael Shannon, Preaching .com

If one chooses to follow the path of the spiritual life, they will find it a demanding route. From the outset, we must fight for it every step of the way that it takes us. 1 Timothy 6:12 cautions us that we will have to "fight the good fight" as we lay claim to eternal life.

One might ask, "How is this done? How is the good fight fought?" This can only be accomplished through one method; having a firm faith in Our Heavenly Father (1 John 5:4). Think of it as fighting the good fight of the faith, and this fight is one that is definitely worth fighting for.

I must stress, however, that none of us will ever obtain eternal life after this life unless we receive it while we are here. If we don't acquire it now, then it will be too late. Where death finds us, eternity will leave us. If we are to take a firm grasp of eternal life, then we must begin now.

Turn to, and read, the Word of God, don't worry what others may choose to read. Within its pages eternal life is brought to the forefront by Jesus Christ in the Gospel. Grasp it, grab onto to it, hold on tightly to it and don't let go no matter the cost. Holy Scripture tells us "Awake, you that sleep, and arise from the dead (Ephesians 5:14). This is a prod aimed towards us that once we come by eternal life, we can be sure that it will not be torn away from us when we depart this temporal life; neither on Judgment Day, nor eternity.

Ancient Greek philospher Heraclitus once said, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” Everything changes, nothing remains the same. We are sojourners here for only a brief span of time. Once we go the way of all flesh, we will not pass this way again. Therefore, once must ask, "Does God live in me?" "Is my body a temple of the Holy Spirit?"

If your response to the above questions is in the negative, then you must re-think your life while there is still time. Our God is the God of the living, not the dead (Luke 20:38; Mark 12:27; Matthew 22:32). Only those of us who choose to live to God in Jesus Christ can be in fellowship with Him.

Scripture: John 5:28; John 10:27; James 2:19; Romans 10:9; Nahum 1:7

Prayer: Dear Jesus, through Your mercy and grace I have reborn; by Your death and resurrection I have been redeemed. I offer You my praise and thanks for all You have done because of Your love me. I pray that I will always be mindful of this. Amen

God bless you,

Cammie