“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)
The Bible defines eternal life as a certain ‘quality of life’, which is dependent on our relationship with God. The essence of eternal life is knowing God. This is only possible through Jesus Christ. “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known” (John 1:18).
Knowing God is about a personal relationship, not just about intellectual knowledge. But since we humans are sinful, our relationship with God is severely damaged! We naturally don’t have eternal life because we are not in a right relationship with our Creator. In fact, we are “dead in our trespasses” (Ephesians 2:5).
But Jesus has come to make us alive again. He offers us forgiveness of sin and a restored relationship with the Lord. If we have such an intimate relationship with Him, this will change our lives completely. The Bible even calls it “a new birth”, “being made alive” spiritually. This change is not only relevant for life after death. Eternal life starts as soon as we are born again, and will reach its fullness after our physical death.
Do you know God?