Ever notice how time flies when you’re having fun, crawls when you’re bored, and how some hurts never go away?

¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

As we continue with our study on when eternal life truly begins, there is a qualifier: We are eternal beings by nature. Although our bodies will die because of the curse of sin, our souls are made to live eternally. What we are talking about is the new life that begins when we turn to Jesus and He fills us with His Presence, His Living Water. I have heard it described as standing under His waterfall of grace. We looked at John 5:19-23 yesterday; today, we look at 24-27.

²⁴ “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. ²⁵ Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. ²⁶ For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. ²⁷ And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

Verse 24 holds the key to eternal life. When we hear Jesus speaking to us and believe that Jesus is who He says He is (God the Son), that He did what He said He did (died in our place), and will do what He said He would do (offer new life to all who believe), then we cross over from death to life. Our new life begins right now! Heaven is God’s home and Jesus is seated right next to Him–yet, they are also on the throne of our hearts (John 14:23). If they are resident in our lives, then heaven has already begun for us!

Paul said it this way, “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

Tomorrow, we will look at the judgment mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:10.

Abba, it is wonderful to know that You reside in my heart and life. I want You to be the Lord of my life now and forever! Thank You that there is now no condemnation who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Amen.