And Eternal Life
“After it was noised about that Mr. Valiant — for truth was taken with a summons by the same post as the other, and had this for a token that the summons was true, that ‘his pitcher was broken at the fountain.’ When he understood it he called for his friends and told them of it. Then said he, ‘I am going to my Father’s and though with great difficulty I got hither yet now I do not repent me of all the trouble I have been at to arrive where I am.’ When the day that he must go over was come many accompanied him to the river-side, into which as he went he said, ‘ Death, where is thy sting? Grave, where is thy victory?’ So he passed over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.”
—JoHNn BUNYAN.
HE Bible makes much use of the term
life as the central and fundamental idea
of heaven, its enjoyments, employments
and character. The term is almost too literal to be reckoned as a symbol. It is a most comprehensive symbol, and its nearness to the literal but enhances its value as a symbol,
The New Testament abounds in the use of this symbol. It is the sum and results of the Gospel. Faith plants the seed of eternal life in the heart, and it germinates and grows in the faithful heart
through all the struggles and years of this life, but it finds its eternal unfolding in fullest expansion and amplitude in heaven. “As many as were ordained to eternal life.”
“To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life” (Rom. 2: 7).
“Shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ.”
“That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 5: 21).
“Reign in life!” What is that? This: “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Paul in giving the reason why the true Christian groans to enter into heaven, says, ‘‘ For we that are in this tabernacle do groan being burdened, not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.”
To Timothy, Paul says, “Lay hold on eternal life whereunto thou art called.” The rich he exhorts in this wise:
“That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (1 Tim. 6: 18-19).
James designates heaven as a “crown of life.” It is called “the resurrection of life.” The statements of the apostles and Christ with this symbol of heaven life, eternal life, implies that it is an eternal freedom from and opposition to death. In the term life is concentrated every good which man can desire to enjoy. “Heaven is the possession, in the highest sense, of the first and last blessing of man, which has been well said to be the essence of all happiness.” Life is the state and affluence of heaven — immortal life, undecayed and undecaying, with no liability to decay or diminution. The state, environments and advances of the heavenly world are all life, more life, deeper, wider, sweeter life. Its book is the Book of life; its crowns of life are crowning; its river, the river of life; its tree, the tree of life; its water, the water of life.
It was the all engrossing question of the young man who came to Jesus, “What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?’ How attractive and charmful this life! What a divine gift is this life! It is bounded by the cradle, the symbol of helplessness and want, and by death, the impersonation of all that is dark, painful, and terrific. Enfeebled by disease, hampered by sickness, and marred by sore distress, with severe struggles, sad disappointments, yet to it we cling, for it we toil, and at last surrender it only in a despairing or triumphant struggle.
But eternal life involves the untold, unimagined and fadeless glories of heaven! What measureless wealth! What deathless raptures! What glorious intoxication! No description dare attempt its picture! The most exalted strains of music would be discord to the harmony of heaven and all brightest visions would turn into darkest midnight! All summer suns would chill like the ice of December when contrasted with the splendor of its nightless day. The most gifted, exalted and sweetest poetry of earth would be but dull prose in heaven. What is eternal life? Who can dream or imagine that life? Heaven has it! Heaven holds it! as the surprise of the saints as they leave earth and pass through the gates of the celestial city.
Jesus is said to lead the heavenly inhabitants to “fountains of living water.” In this we have the figure of life, ever new and continuous. Here is a life that refreshes, blesses and satisfies the soul as water refreshes, blesses and satisfies the body. Here is a constant unfolding of life, life to the full and overflowing, like a fountain, new discoveries of life, its hidden sources opened up, ever new, ever fresh.
Heaven will be the pursuit of life, the employment of life, the enjoyment of life, the increase of life. Its pursuits, its employment and its enjoyment will be eternal. Life in heaven will be a rapture, a bliss untold. All the man, mind, soul and spirit, will be widened and elevated, deepened, refined and beautified by it. Everything will conspire to make that life supremely blest and supremely glorious. Christ will feed that life on richest pasturage. Christ will lead that life to fountains of living water. “God will wipe away all tears” from the eyes of that life.
The heavens shall glow with splendor,
But brighter far than they
The saints shall shine in glory,
As Christ shall them array:
The beauty of the Saviour,
Shall dazzle every eye,
In the crowning day that’s coming by and by.
Our pain shall then be over,
We’ll sin and sigh no more;
Behind us all of sorrow,
And naught but joy before,
A joy in our Redeemer,
As we to him are nigh,
In the crowning day that’s coming by and by.