Forever Life - Pt 6

[Jesus said] “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:37-40 ESV).

The tombstone marking Matthew Robison’s grave may be one of the most creative works anywhere. It was designed by his parents to bring hope to everyone that saw it. Matthew died at 11 years of age having suffered with a critical illness for since birth. It is an encouragement because it portrays the truth that eternal life is not interrupted at death. Everyone who has eternal life by faith will never have that life stripped away from him; even if he dies, he will live. Physical death will not turn eternal life into temporary life. One of the most powerful moments in my early life in the ministry was at the funeral of one of a dear older lady from our church. I was an associate pastor at the time working under one of the finest pastors I have been privileged to know, Bill Shamburger. My purpose at the funeral was to further my pastoral training. I remember well, at one point “preacher” (as everyone knew Bill Shamburger) lifted his voice and said with tremendous authority, "Betty James is not dead! For Jesus has said, 'Everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.'" Indeed, eternal life is not interrupted by death. We must also understand that a part of our forever life is the truth that we are made complete at the resurrection. Eternal life will be made complete when our bodies are raised from the dead and reunited with our spirits. Our reading tells us that this is the will of God: Jesus said, "This is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day" (v. 40). He is not only the life, as he said (11:25–26), he is the resurrection. Since that funeral, over 40 years ago, I have officiated at hundreds of funerals. I am now as convinced as ever, none of these, who were believers, are dead. They are alive with eternal life in heaven with Christ (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23). But their fullest experience of eternal life will come when the Lord descends with a trumpet and with the archangel's call and the dead bodies of all those who are in Christ are raised from the dead.