This is Life Eternal

In John 17 we have the transcript of a prayer of Christ. He was already standing in the shadow of the cross, yet His burden is for His disciples. In this touching prayer, rich with meaning, Christ gave a lesson which should be engraved on the mind and the soul.

“This is life eternal,” He said, “that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3.

This is true education. It imparts power. The experimental knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent, transforms man into the image of God. It gives to man the mastery of himself, bringing every impulse and passion of the lower nature under the control of the higher powers of the mind. It makes its possessor a son of God and an heir of heaven. It brings him into communion with the mind of the Infinite, and opens to him the rich treasures of the universe.

This is the knowledge which is obtained by searching the word of God. And this treasure may be found by every soul who will give all to obtain it.

If thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:3-5.

Human beings are infatuated with knowledge. Some spend years on an education; others find out everything there is to know about sports and can tell you every statistic. Others study all about cars and can tell you the smallest differences in the different years and models, while still others know all the movie stars and the intricate details of their personal lives. But what is the value of such knowledge? How can it compare with a knowledge that will enable us to obtain eternal life

A Casual Acquaintance with God is Not Enough

One day my daughter and I were playfully talking and laughing. Then she said something in a joking way, but with some sarcasm about someone. When I didn’t respond, she exclaimed, “You are talking with your eyes!” So I asked, “Well, what did I say?” “You said I am being mean.” She knew me well. I didn't have to say anything, she already knew what I was thinking.

Perhaps you have a grandmother, husband or wife, sister or brother, or good friend, with whom you have, or have had, such a relationship. You know them so well, you can tell what they are thinking. You have been together so much, and admire one another so much, that you have come to think alike. When your eyes meet, you can read each other’s thoughts. A look, a hand on the shoulder, a hug or a touch on the hand; all communicate a thousand things. You love to be together and you hate being separated.

Have you ever thought of the possibility of having that close a friendship with God? Have you imagined it possible to know Him, to love Him, and to know you are loved by Him that much? Have you thought it possible to trust Him so much that no circumstance can shake your confidence in His love? Do you expect answers to your prayers and receive the things needed, because you asked exactly what He wanted to give you anyway? Do you think just like Him, so that before He asks, you are already thinking of His desires for you and performing them? Have you ever longed for His presence like a weary deer pants for water? Jesus had such a relationship with His Father and this is what we need as well.

His intimate relationship with His Father and the relationship we can have with the Father was the subject of Christ’s last public prayer, recorded in
John 17.

I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. John 17:23.

And from the following verse also, we learn of the closeness, the intimacy, that God wants us to have with Him.

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Psalms 32:8.

Recently I had the opportunity to ride a friend's horse. My friend was training this horse with a special method. The horse was trained to go in the direction its rider looked or pointed, without the rider having to do anything else.

God wants us to be living so close to Him that when we just look to Him, we will understand what His thoughts are and be ready to work in harmony with Him.

Intimate Fellowship with God is Possible

In Hebrews we read of those:

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection. Hebrews 11:33-35.

What kind of relationship was this, that they could have such experiences!

Daniel was greatly beloved. Abraham was called the friend of God and ate and talked with God. Enoch walked so close with God, that God took him to be with Him. Moses spoke face to face with God as a man speaks with his friend. Job declared concerning God, “Though He slay me yet will I trust in Him.” John leaned on Jesus' breast and was referred to as the beloved (loved of Christ). We can have this same kind of relationship with God, for “this is life eternal.”

Fellowship with God was Broken

Adam enjoyed this kind of communion and fellowship with God. Morning and evening, in the “cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8), God came and talked with Adam and Eve. But because of sin, God, living in glory unapproachable, could no longer communicate with man.

Without communication even possible, how could man ever hope to know God, much less have a close relationship with Him? We are living in a helpless and powerless state, subject to the assaults of a powerful foe; it is so different to His situation. We are constantly tempted, but He cannot be tempted. How could we ever hope to discover what He is really like; to know how He would respond in an environment like ours; or how He thinks about things? How could we, sinful defiled creatures, hope to ever be able to approach into His presence, and communicate with the high and holy Creator? Besides, our situation, living in a world of sin, is so vastly different to the pure, holy, sinless and glorious environment of heaven.

It has been Made Possible for us Through Christ, for:

God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. 2 Corinthians 5:19.

[God] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. Hebrews 1:2.

In Christ, we can see and know God. His character and attributes are the same as His Father's.

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. John 1:18.

It is one thing to have a knowledge of God through other's lives. But it is another thing to experience God's providence for ourselves, to commune with Him personally, to know our prayers are heard and recognize His leading and involvement in our lives. To have our faith so rooted and grounded in love that we will have an experience like those of Hebrews 11, “of whom the world was not worthy.” God is calling us to this kind of experience!

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