Sacred Cynicism

Every now and then, I read something that just leaps off the page at me. It usually means there is something there that I have not seen before, noticed before, or even imagined. I ran across something like this recently, and it was when I was reading the gospel of John. In 5:24 John reads, “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.” Maybe you are familiar with this passage, but let me tell you what I noticed in this verse. Eternal life is not something that awaits us in some distant future, rather it is something that one has, that one enjoys here and now. What could this possibly mean?

It certainly upsets the little apple cart that some Christians seem to cling to. In this world eternal life equals heaven, and it is something that is enjoyed after one dies. So we live a certain way here in the hope that we will qualify for this heaven. We even tend to “know” what this heaven looks like. It has streets of gold, and pearly gates which enclose mansions, where we will reside for those rare times we are not sitting around a circle praising God. Can I be honest here? This picture holds no particular attraction for me. I am sure streets of gold are fine, but I really don’t need my blacktop all that blingy. Mansions are nice enough, but who really needs all that space? Plus, as much as I have searched, I have never found a single “mansion” description in the Bible. So back to this verse in John. What does eternal life describe, especially if it is something we enjoy right now?

Primarily, eternal life is a quality of life description. There is a new life, a new way of loving that is now possible. Maybe we can finally rid ourselves of the jealousy, envy, and personal agendas that seem to so easily seep into most relationships. It just may be possible to love our neighbor as ourselves. When those things happen, that is a living example of eternal life.

Hopefully, most of us have people we trust completely. Have you ever had a group of friends where no selfishness, and competing agendas ever ruin things? Have you ever had a few days where time seemed to stand still, and everything was perfect? Have you ever had a time where there were no urgent deadlines, anxiety-laden pressures, and all your immediate needs were met? These are glimpses and moments where eternal life comes into focus, albeit hazily.

I think we have been guilty of turning our idea of eternal life into an individualistic, reward based scenario. Where is my mansion, and when will I get my gold? I realize that these were often attempts to describe the indescribable by using the most desired, valuable items we have. Yet Scripture does tell us a little more about eternal life than we think, except it does so in a manner that may surprise us. It tells us about a love for God with all of our heart, and a matching love for our neighbor. It tells us about love, joy, peace, gentleness and self-control. It tells us about a place where we will not have to fear those things we have learned to fear – things like disease, decay, crime, and things that sting or bite. It tells us about a world with all of the best qualities of beauty, justice and love, without any of the destructive results of sin. Scripture tells me the effects of eternal life start right now, but will not end when my natural life does.

So I admit it. I do not care much for a harp, a crown or wings. Nor do I care at all about a mansion just over the hillside, or streets of gold. All of these things would be a drawback to me. Yet these are the things that have filled our popular imagination for decades now. I think about all the beautiful places I have seen in my life, places that are personal favorites, like Mills Lake, Cathedral Spires, and Lower Tahquamenon Falls. I also think about all the people that have made a difference in my life. Imagine all of those people around these perfect places, and remove the threats of harm, sickness, and imposed deadlines. Add to this mix a love that was demonstrated by going to a cross, and a power that raised Jesus from the dead, and I think a picture of eternal life starts to emerge. Yes, I live in a world where things still bite, and where envy and greed still devastate. But that will not always be the case. There is a new world coming. Now that…. I can start to imagine.