SUNDAY SERMON: There’s eternal life for the repentant

What is this eternal life? We have to admit that the promise is vague. If it is just a long stretch of time, we will not look forward to it. PHOTO| FILE| NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • What is this thing called “eternal life”? The Old Testament spoke of a stretch of territory in the Middle East as the Promised Land — a land so rich that it was flowing with milk and honey.
  • In the New Testament, Jesus spoke instead of another world, where the greatest joy is to see God face to face. 
  • What is this eternal life? We have to admit that the promise is vague. If it is just a long stretch of time, we will not look forward to it.
  • When life is nasty, the last thing we want is someone promising it will never end. But even when life is fairly pleasant, it can be boring and monotonous.
  • Would an eternity of mere pleasantness truly satisfy? 

Jesus made many promises. One of my favourites comes from the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.” One of my friends prefers the promise Jesus mentioned at the Last Supper: “There are many rooms in my Father’s house and I am going now to prepare a place for you.” 

If you have never taken the time to choose your own favourite, try it sometime. You can always change later. Or you can have 10 favourites. The reason for this exercise is simple enough. Our God is a Father who loves us, and, being all-powerful, can deliver on his promises. He wants us to hope, that is, to look forward to the fulfilment of all his promises.

 We get excited about promises the world makes. Advertisements lead us to believe that eating, drinking, wearing or using some product will make us incredibly happy. The logic of salvation is actually not much different, except that Jesus made a much greater claim. “The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood will have eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day.” For those who have faith, this claim is something they expect to be fulfilled. 

What is this thing called “eternal life”? The Old Testament spoke of a stretch of territory in the Middle East as the Promised Land — a land so rich that it was flowing with milk and honey. In the New Testament, Jesus spoke instead of another world, where the greatest joy is to see God face to face. 

What is this eternal life? We have to admit that the promise is vague. If it is just a long stretch of time, we will not look forward to it. When life is nasty, the last thing we want is someone promising it will never end. But even when life is fairly pleasant, it can be boring and monotonous. Would an eternity of mere pleasantness truly satisfy? 

The eternal life Christ promised goes far beyond a life of uninterrupted leisure surrounded by friends and family, free from pain and death. It is that much, and yet much more. According to the Prophet Isaiah, the plan for eternal life is something “eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it ever entered into the mind of man — all that God has prepared for those who love him.”

 St Paul says in Philippians that the day will come, “when you will reach the perfect goodness which Jesus Christ produces in us for the glory and praise of God.” Do not be discouraged by your sins. As long as you repent, you can count on God’s power to purify you, lift you up and turn you into his image and likeness.