We are currently looking at some of the basic revelations of God’s Word that really impacted and changed my life. They may be very elementary to you, but I will encourage you to open up your heart to receive because they are essential and should always bless you when you revisit them.
John 3:16 New King James Version (NKJV)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
This verse says, “that whosoever believes in him shouldn’t perish but have everlasting life.” Many of us think that the purpose of Jesus coming was so that we would go to heaven when we die. And yes, that’s part of it, but there is much more. Christianity is much more than “fire insurance” or a ticket to heaven. Sadly, many Christians reduce their faith to a “get-out-of-hell-free card”. Jesus came to give us “eternal life” or everlasting life” which many of us wrongly define as living forever. It is much more than that!
John 17:3 New King James Version (NKJV)
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
John 17:3 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.
Eternal life isn’t just living forever. Everyone lives forever. When you die in this life you’ll open your eyes in the next one. Eternal life in context of John 3:16 cannot be defined as living forever. Eternal life is a relationship with God which starts in this life. It’s friendship with God. The enemy has done a great job in reducing Christianity to “fire insurance” and as a result, many are missing out on friendship with God. The enemy has also reduced Christianity to be about how you can become a better person, but Christianity is not about self-help or self-improvement – it’s not about self! When we see Christianity as an opportunity to improve our performance it puts our focus onto ourselves instead of Jesus and we end up not enjoying what Christianity is all about: a relationship with God! When I saw this truth for the first time it radically changed my life because I was under the impression that my purpose was just to serve God, that “I am saved to serve”. There’s a shred of truth in that but it’s not a complete truth.
As a believer, yes, God has a purpose for your life but that purpose is not just about something for you to do, it starts with a relationship with Him. God isn’t looking for some servants; He isn’t only interested in your service and what you can do for Him. He loves you! For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. “Son” implies that God is a “Father.” He didn’t want us to perish but have “everlasting life” which is a relationship with Him. Relationship with Him is the goal of salvation. Not your service for Him. Now, if you fall in love with Him you will want to serve Him but He isn’t expecting you to serve Him and He isn’t obligating you either. If you fall in love with Him you’re going to want to do something for Him. You’re going to be active and in serving God, but God doesn’t expect you to serve him. Living for Him and in His purposes for you is going to satisfy you but He is not expecting you to do anything and He is not putting an obligation on you either. It’s about what he has done for us. That’s what Christianity is about. Christianity is not about you becoming something, it’s about you discovering what He’s done for you and what He’s made you. Christianity is not something that you have to put a lot of effort into. It’s a relationship that you build by getting to know His heart more and more.