Friend Of God

This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent—Jesus Christ.

John 17:3, HCSB

EARN MORE MONEY. Get that promotion. Exercise and eat right. Give more. On and on it goes. We live in a society on the move—constantly striving to do more, produce more, and do everything better. We may even be tempted to make our relationship with God all about our performance. We can become approval seekers—employees rather than sons—striving to show ourselves worthy of eternal life. That’s exhausting. It’s also futile.

We don’t need to perform our way to God; in fact, we can’t. Eternal life is ours the moment we come to know Him. It’s a gift, His gift, that we cannot earn and do not deserve. And it’s a “now and later” gift. Eternal, abundant life is found right now—in knowing God and His Son—and later, when we are fully in His presence.

In Luke 10, we have the examples of Mary and Martha. Martha was a striver, a doer. She was taking care of business. Her work ethic would be right at home in our modern world. Mary, on the other hand, was content to simply sit at Jesus’ feet and listen. She was experiencing eternal life. Just as young children delight in time spent with their father, Mary found joy in spending time with Jesus. And so can we. There’s no need to perform, no heavenly rat race to join—just friendship with the God of the universe.

BOTTOM LINE

Eternal life cannot be earned, nor is it bound up in heaven. It is a gift that is ours right here and now when we become friends with the King.

Moment of Strength: Psalm 16:11