What is Eternal Life?

"Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." ⏤ John 17:3 NIV

Here, Jesus is praying before being arrested and going to the cross. His disciples are with him, and he defines eternal life (aiōnios zōē) for them. "This is eternal life." Eternal life = knowing God.

The Kingdom is like…

A friend and colleague of mine is a Magical Vacation Planner for Disney. Have a discussion with her and you will hear something like “The Magic Kingdom is like…”. She is trying to describe another realm in the best way she can, knowing all along that you need to experience it for yourself.

So much of what Jesus talked about was “The Kingdom of God is like…”. Through parables, conversations, even rebukes, Jesus described a realm that he is inviting us into. And, like Disney, all of the descriptions fall short of the lived experience.

An Explosion of Words

I love your pictures of the sea and the mountains. I love your photos of forests, flowers, and every kind of creature. Now imagine we lived in a time before cameras. How would you help me see that sunrise? How would you portray that platypus? Our family recently played the game Catch Phrase; it's so hard to describe even the simplest things.

Now here's a challenge: describe God. Isaiah, a great Old Testament prophet, makes a good effort in Isaiah 40. It's an explosion of words. But I come away feeling he barely scratched the surface. How do you describe the Indescribable? Now, we know in part; now, we see a reflection in a mirror. One day we'll see fully; one day we'll see face-to-face. How awesome will that be? There aren't enough words!