WE MIGHT HAVE MISSED ETERNAL LIFE

I have been reflecting lately—and I wonder if we have misunderstood the gift of eternal life, and missed it.

We often think of eternal life as something that comes after we have endured this life—after we have struggled, fought the good fight, stood firm in trials, resisted temptation, and finally crossed the finish line of death. Only then, we imagine, will God smile and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” and finally let us into the joy of heaven.

Yes, it is true that we are sanctified through life’s trials. And yes, some may fall, struggle, even backslide. But here is what I fear we may have missed: eternal life does not begin after death. It begins the moment we believe.

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.” — John 3:36
“I write these things… so that you may know that you have eternal life.” — 1 John 5:13

Did you catch that? Not “will” have. Not “might” have. But has/have eternal life! Which means, we don’t need to wait until we are perfectly sanctified or morally flawless to receive eternal life. We don’t earn it at the end of a perfect Christian record. It is the gift of God, given the very moment we trust in Jesus as our Saviour and Lord.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes… has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life.” — John 5:24

Perhaps because we didn’t fully understand this when we first believed, many of us live afraid. Afraid of making mistakes. Afraid of being found out. Afraid that one day we’ll be disqualified. So we hide. We cover up our flaws. We try harder, but joy fades and shame lingers.

But eternal life is not just a future reward—it’s a present reality. And more than that, it is a present relationship.

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

Eternal life is knowing Jesus. Walking with Him. Being loved, forgiven, and changed by Him—not just at the end, but every step of the way. So being His missional disciples, let’s fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. He is not just the goal at the finish line—He is our strength, our companion, our life along the way. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). The life He offers is both abundant and eternal—here, now, and forevermore.

And if we understand eternity in this way, it changes how we walk through hardship. It gives us hope when we feel overwhelmed, when the burdens feel too heavy, and we feel like giving up. It reminds us that we are already connected to the eternal life Christ promised when we first believed. We are not far from God’s help—we are held by it.

So don’t wait to enjoy eternity. If you belong to Christ, you are already living in it. Even when the journey is rough, even when we stumble—Jesus is with us. Let’s walk with Him. Cling to Him. Let Him shape us—not through fear, but in the security of His love.

And yes—enjoy the journey. Because the One who holds you is faithful to the end.

Being His missional disciple,

Pastor Forest